Pyknokliini

Pyknokliini is a taxonomic tribe name that appears in zoological classifications. The term follows the standard pattern for tribe-level names, typically formed from a stem associated with a defining genus or group and bearing the -ini suffix. In practice, the exact circumscription of pyknokliini depends on the author and the higher taxonomic context being treated.

Taxonomic status and placement of pyknokliini have varied across classifications. In some schemes it is listed as a valid tribe within a particular family or order; in others it is treated as a junior synonym of another tribe or as a subtribe within a larger lineage. Because of differing morphological interpretations and the increasing use of molecular data, the coherence and boundaries of pyknokliini remain disputed in much of the recent literature.

Composition and diagnosis are thus unsettled. There is no universally accepted list of genera or species assigned to pyknokliini, and membership often shifts with different taxonomic treatments. Consequently, there is no stable diagnostic suite of characters that is consistently cited across sources.

Current usage tends to label pyknokliini as an obscure or disputed name in need of clarification. In many modern databases and reviews, its status is described as unresolved or deprecated, reflecting ongoing debates about its validity and circumscription rather than a settled, widely accepted taxon.

See also: Taxonomic rank, Tribe (biology), Taxonomic nomenclature.