Pelecorhynchidae
Enderlein, 1922
Pelecorhynchid Snipe Flies
Genus Guides
2is a small of flies in the infraorder Tabanomorpha. The family's taxonomic status has been debated; its were originally placed in Rhagionidae, but phylogenetic analyses support its recognition as a distinct clade. The family includes three genera: Pelecorhynchus, Glutops, and Pseudoerinna. of Pelecorhynchus have been observed feeding on nectar of Leptospermum flowers.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Pelecorhynchidae: /ˌpɛlɛkoʊˈrɪnkiˌdeɪ/
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Habitat
Larvae of Pelecorhynchus have been collected in the damp margins of swamp areas.
Distribution
The Pelecorhynchus occurs in Australia and Chile. The genera Glutops and Pseudoerinna are distributed in the Nearctic and eastern Palaearctic regions.
Diet
of Pelecorhynchus mostly feed on nectar of Leptospermum flowers. Larvae feed on earthworms.
Similar Taxa
- Rhagionidae was historically classified within Rhagionidae, and the two share morphological similarities in form. Molecular and morphological phylogenetic analyses support their separation as distinct clades.
More Details
Taxonomic History
All now placed in were originally described in Rhagionidae. The elevation to rank has been controversial, though multiple phylogenetic analyses have supported Pelecorhynchidae as a distinct clade separate from Rhagionidae.
Phylogenetic Relationships
Within , Glutops is the sister group to Pelecorhynchus sensu lato, with Pseudoerinna jonesi as sister to that clade. The Pelecorhynchus comprises three main clades with unresolved affinities: Clade I (P. personatus, P. vulpes, P. penai, P. kroeberi), Clade II (Chilean now placed in Coenura), and Clade III (P. fulvus, exclusively Australian).
Generic Revision
Molecular and morphological phylogenetic analysis has led to the restoration of Coenura Bigot, 1857 to generic status for southern South American previously placed in Pelecorhynchus: C. biguttata, C. elegans, C. hualqui, C. longicauda, C. toltensis, and C. xanthopleura.