Hydrodytinae
K. B. Miller, 2001
Genus Guides
1Hydrodytinae is a of predaceous diving beetles in the Dytiscidae, established by K. B. Miller in 2001. It contains at least two and four described . The genus Hydrodytes occurs in North America and the Neotropics, while Microhydrodytes is restricted to the Neotropics. This subfamily represents a relatively recently recognized lineage within the diverse diving fauna.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Hydrodytinae: /ˌhaɪdroʊˈdaɪtɪniː/
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Identification
Members of Hydrodytinae can be distinguished from other Dytiscidae by phylogenetic placement and morphological characters established in the original description by Miller (2001). The Microhydrodytes contains notably small (elachistus meaning 'very small'), while Hydrodytes species are comparatively larger.
Habitat
Aquatic environments. Hydrodytes inhabit lentic and lotic freshwater systems in North America and the Neotropics. Microhydrodytes elachistus has been recorded from phytotelmata (water-holding plants) in the Neotropics.
Distribution
Neotropical region and southern Nearctic. Hydrodytes occurs in North America (H. dodgei) and the Neotropics (H. inaciculatus, H. opalinus). Microhydrodytes is to the Neotropics.
Similar Taxa
- Other Dytiscidae subfamiliesHydrodytinae is distinguished by its phylogenetic position and morphological synapomorphies; it was previously classified within Hydroporinae before Miller's 2001 revision established it as a separate .
More Details
Taxonomic history
Hydrodytinae was erected by K. B. Miller in 2001 based on phylogenetic analysis that revealed this lineage was not closely related to Hydroporinae, where its constituent were previously classified. The Microhydrodytes was described in 2002 to accommodate the unusually small M. elachistus.
Phytotelmata habitat
Microhydrodytes elachistus is one of the few dytiscid beetles known to inhabit phytotelmata—small water bodies held by plants such as bromeliads. This specialized use is rare within Dytiscidae and represents a distinct ecological within Hydrodytinae.