Parathalassius
Mik, 1891
Species Guides
3Parathalassius is a of long-legged flies in the Dolichopodidae, Parathalassiinae. The genus name derives from Greek, meaning 'near the sea', reflecting its strict association with coastal . The genus comprises 15 recognized distributed across the Palaearctic and Nearctic realms, with nine species described from the Nearctic Region in a 2017 revision. Species are restricted to sandy marine coastlines, where they occupy beach and dune .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Parathalassius: /ˌpærəθəˈlæsiəs/
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Identification
Parathalassius are distinguished from other Dolichopodidae by their coastal specificity and membership in the Parathalassiinae. The 2017 revision provides a key to all 15 world species based on morphological characters. Nearctic species can be identified using COI mitochondrial barcodes, which were sequenced for 12 species. Specific diagnostic features for -level recognition are not detailed in available sources.
Habitat
Strictly confined to sandy coastal beaches and dune systems along marine shorelines. Occupies the intertidal and supratidal zones of sea coasts.
Distribution
Palaearctic and Nearctic realms. Twelve recorded from the Nearctic Region, with additional species in the Palaearctic. Not recorded from other biogeographic regions.
Similar Taxa
- PlesiothalassiusParathalassius capensis was transferred to this , indicating historical taxonomic confusion between these coastal dolichopodid genera
More Details
Taxonomic revision
A comprehensive 2017 revision by Brooks & Cumming in Zootaxa redefined the Nearctic fauna, describing nine new , designating lectotypes for P. aldrichi and P. melanderi, and providing COI barcodes and a morphological
Etymology
The name translates from Greek as 'near the sea', accurately describing the obligate coastal of all member