Hermatobatidae

Definition

A family of wingless marine true bugs (Hemiptera) containing the single genus Hermatobatidae, commonly called coral-treaders. Members inhabit coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific, where they forage on the water surface during low tide and shelter in reef crevices during high tide. Their locomotion superficially resembles that of water striders (Gerridae), but they are not closely related.

Etymology

From the type genus Hermatobates (Greek herma 'reef, foundation' + bates 'walker') + the family suffix -idae.

Example

Hermatobates weddi, a species in the family Hermatobatidae, was described from the Maldives and is known to exploit the intertidal zone of coral atolls by skating on surface tension during exposed low tides.

Related Terms

• Hermatobates
• Gerromorpha
• water strider
• intertidal zone
• marine insect
• coral reef ecology

Usage Notes

The family is monotypic, containing only the genus Hermatobatidae. The common name 'coral-treader' distinguishes them from the superficially similar but distantly related water striders (family Gerridae). Specimens are rarely encountered due to their restricted habitat and cryptic behavior during high tide.