A characterization of minimal locally finite varieties

In this paper we describe a one-variable Mal'cev-like condition satisfied by any locally finite minimal variety. We prove that a locally finite variety is minimal if and only if it satisfies this Mal'cev-like condition and it is generated by a strictly simple algebra which is nonabelian or has a trivial subalgebra. Our arguments show that the strictly simple generator of a minimal locally finite variety is unique, it is projective and it embeds into every member of the variety. We give a new proof of the structure theorem for strictly simple abelian algebras that generate minimal varieties.