Marginidae

Definition

A small, poorly known family of flies (Diptera) containing the single genus Margo, with two species restricted to dense moist forests in Africa. The family is provisionally classified in the superfamily Opomyzoidea based on morphological characters. Both described species—Margo aperta from Zimbabwe and Margo clausa from Madagascar—are considered vulnerable to habitat destruction, though their biology remains largely unstudied.

Etymology

From the type genus Margo, with the family suffix -idae.

Example

Marginidae exemplifies the many understudied dipteran families known from only a handful of specimens collected in disappearing forest habitats.

Synonyms

• margin flies

Related Terms

• Opomyzoidea
• Margo
• Diptera
• Afrotropical region
• habitat destruction
• cryptic species

Usage Notes

The family is monotypic and known from very few specimens; its phylogenetic placement within Opomyzoidea remains provisional pending molecular study. Not to be confused with Marginellidae, a family of marine gastropod mollusks.