Spanglerogyrus
Folkerts, 1979
Species Guides
1Spanglerogyrus is a of whirligig beetles ( Gyrinidae) containing the single S. albiventris. It represents the only living member of the Spanglerogyrinae, the earliest diverging extant lineage of gyrinid beetles. The genus was described in 1979 from specimens collected in southern Alabama, making it a rare example of a relictual aquatic lineage in North America.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Spanglerogyrus: //spæŋˌɡlɛroʊˈdʒaɪrəs//
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Distribution
Southern Alabama, United States. The type locality and only confirmed records are from the Conecuh National Forest region in the southeastern coastal plain.
Similar Taxa
- DineutusBoth are of whirligig beetles (Gyrinidae) found in North American freshwater . Dineutus are more common and widespread, whereas Spanglerogyrus is extremely rare and restricted to a specific region in Alabama.
More Details
Evolutionary significance
Spanglerogyrus is the sole survivor of the Spanglerogyrinae, which diverged early in gyrinid evolution. The subfamily also includes the extinct Angarogyrus, known from Jurassic and Cretaceous deposits in Asia, making Spanglerogyrus a living fossil lineage.
Discovery context
The was described by Folkerts in 1979 based on specimens from southern Alabama. The has been specifically sought after by researchers studying North American whirligig beetle diversity, as noted in contemporary fieldwork by coleopterists searching for this rare .