Ranatra brevicollis

Montandon, 1910

Western Waterscorpion

Ranatra brevicollis is a of waterscorpion in the Nepidae, first described by Montandon in 1910. It is distributed across Central America and North America. The species belongs to a of aquatic predatory insects commonly known as waterscorpions due to their elongated, -like appearance. It is recognized by the Western Waterscorpion.

Ranatra brevicollis by (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Ranatra brevicollis: /rəˈneɪtrə ˌbrɛvɪˈkɒlɪs/

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Identification

Distinguished from other Ranatra by its relatively short pronotum (brevis = short, collis = neck). The Ranatra can be separated from other Nepidae by its slender, elongate body and extremely long legs; the Ranatrinae is distinguished by the presence of ocelli and the structure of the respiratory siphon. Accurate species-level identification requires examination of pronotal proportions relative to body length.

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Appearance

As a member of the Ranatra, this possesses an elongated, stick-like body form with extremely long, thin legs adapted for aquatic locomotion. The forelegs are , modified for grasping prey. A long respiratory siphon extends from the end of the , used for breathing while submerged. The specific epithet brevicollis (short-necked) distinguishes it from by its relatively shorter pronotum.

Habitat

Aquatic environments including ponds, slow-moving streams, and vegetated freshwater bodies. As with other Nepidae, it requires submerged vegetation for hunting cover and access to the water surface for respiration.

Distribution

Central America and North America. GBIF records confirm presence in Middle America and North America.

Similar Taxa

  • Ranatra fuscaSimilar elongated body form and aquatic habit, but distinguished by longer pronotum proportions
  • Other Nepidae (water scorpions)Share aquatic predatory lifestyle and forelegs, but Ranatra are more slender with longer legs than Nepa species

More Details

Taxonomic Note

The was described by A.L. Montandon in 1910. The specific epithet brevicollis refers to the diagnostic short pronotum that separates this species from .

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