Opetiidae

Definition

A small family of true flies (Diptera) in the superfamily Platypezoidea, commonly called flat-footed flies alongside the family Platypezidae. The family comprises only five extant species in two genera: Opetia, found in the Palearctic region, and Puyehuemyia, restricted to Chile in South America. Several fossil genera have been assigned to Opetiidae, though many are likely misplaced within Platypezoidea; Lonchopterites from Early Cretaceous Lebanese amber and Electrosania from Late Cretaceous New Jersey amber appear genuinely related to modern opetiids.

Etymology

From Opetia, the type genus (etymology of genus name not specified in sources), + -idae (family suffix).

Example

The Chilean genus Puyehuemyia represents one of only two living genera in the relict fly family Opetiidae, a lineage with a sparse modern distribution but deeper fossil roots in Cretaceous amber deposits.

Synonyms

• flat-footed flies (shared with Platypezidae)

Related Terms

• Platypezidae
• Platypezoidea
• Diptera
• Opetia
• Puyehuemyia
• Lonchopterites
• Electrosania
• Cretaceous amber
• relict distribution

Usage Notes

Opetiidae is one of two families called 'flat-footed flies,' a vernacular name also applied to Platypezidae; context usually clarifies which family is intended. The family's extreme rarity in modern faunas—only five described extant species—contrasts with its broader fossil representation, making it significant for studies of dipteran phylogeny and historical biogeography. Specialists note ongoing taxonomic uncertainty regarding fossil assignments to this family.