Tortopus

Needham & Murphy, 1924

Tortopus is a of burrowing mayflies in the Polymitarcyidae, restricted to six based on cladistic revision: T. igaranus, T. circumfluus, T. harrisi, T. zottai, T. bellus, and T. arenales. The genus is characterized by distinctive morphological synapomorphies including female parastyli receptors with long furrows, entirely flattened penes, and nymphs bearing two subapical on mandibular tusks. Nymphs construct U-shaped tunnels in clay banks, a that renders them difficult to with standard aquatic survey methods.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Tortopus: /ˈtɔr.to.pus/

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Identification

: Female parastyli receptors with long furrows to sockets; penes entirely flattened; male ninth abdominal sternum almost separated into two portions by notch; mesosternum with furcasternal contiguous only at basal corner. Nymphs: Two subapical on mandibular tusks (distinguishing from Tortopsis, which has one).

Habitat

Clay banks of rivers and streams; nymphs construct U-shaped burrows in clay substrates.

Distribution

Panamerican distribution; Neotropical region including Ecuador, Colombia, and Argentina.

Life Cycle

Nymphs are burrowing; described for multiple though nymphs remain unknown for most. Embryonic development and early instar have been studied in related species.

Behavior

Nymphs burrow U-shaped tunnels in clay banks, preventing capture by standard limnological sampling equipment such as Surber samplers, drags, or drift nets.

Similar Taxa

  • TortopsisFormerly included within Tortopus; distinguished by female parastyli receptors C or V-shaped with sockets opening toward line, penes separated from base, and nymphs with single subapical on mandibular tusks versus two in Tortopus.

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