Brackish-water
Guides
Culiseta inornata
Winter Marsh Mosquito, Unadorned American Cool Weather Mosquito
Culiseta inornata, commonly known as the winter marsh mosquito, is a species of mosquito in the family Culicidae. It has been extensively studied for its sensory physiology, mating behavior, and osmoregulatory adaptations to brackish water habitats. The species exhibits complex behavioral mechanisms for processing conflicting sensory stimuli and has been documented in central and southern California, where it occurs in marsh and brackish water environments.
Enochrus hamiltoni
Enochrus hamiltoni is a water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, originally described from Florida in 1890. The species has been recorded across much of North America, with recent documentation from Cuba representing the first Caribbean record outside the United States. It inhabits shallow, temporary ponds with muddy substrates and emergent vegetation.
Ephydrinae
shore flies
Ephydrinae is a subfamily of shore flies within the family Ephydridae, first described by Zetterstedt in 1837. The subfamily contains four recognized tribes: Ephydrini, Scatellini, Parydrini, and Dagini. Members are commonly found in association with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. The group includes genera such as Ephydra, Scatella, and Parydra.
Lestes dryas
emerald spreadwing, scarce emerald damselfly, robust spreadwing, turlough spreadwing
Lestes dryas is a Holarctic damselfly species in the family Lestidae, commonly known as the emerald spreadwing or scarce emerald damselfly. It is notable for being the only Lestes species that occurs in both Europe and North America. The species can tolerate extreme environmental conditions, including slightly brackish water, that few other odonates survive. It has experienced significant population declines in parts of its range, particularly in Britain and Ireland, where it was believed extinct before its rediscovery in 1983. Conservation efforts focus on maintaining ditch systems and shallow water habitats that support its aquatic life stages.
Macrodiplax
Coastal Pennants
Macrodiplax is a genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae, commonly known as Coastal Pennants. The genus contains only two species and is distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, with the notable exception of Africa. Members of this genus are characterized by their coastal habitat preferences and distinctive wing markings.
Palaemon elegans
rockpool shrimp, rockpool prawn
Palaemon elegans is a small caridean shrimp native to northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean coastal waters. It has expanded its range through human-mediated transport and changing environmental conditions, becoming established in the Baltic Sea, Caspian Sea, and Aral Sea. The species is ecologically similar to several congeners, particularly Palaemon adspersus, with which it competes and has displaced in some regions. Its tolerance of variable salinity has facilitated colonization of brackish environments.
Polyphemidae
Polyphemidae is a family of predatory water fleas (Branchiopoda) containing the single genus Polyphemus with two recognized species: P. pediculus and P. exiguus. Members are characterized by large, raptorial antennae used for capturing prey and a reduced carapace that leaves the body exposed. P. pediculus has a broad Holarctic distribution in freshwater and brackish habitats, while P. exiguus is restricted to the Caspian Sea. Cryptic species have been identified within P. pediculus due to allopatric speciation.
Saduria entomon
Saduria entomon is a large benthic isopod crustacean and one of the largest crustaceans in the Baltic Sea, reaching nearly 9 cm in length. It is distributed across Arctic and northern Pacific coasts, the brackish Baltic Sea (where it is a glacial relict), several North European lakes, and has been introduced to the Black Sea. The species is sexually dimorphic with males growing larger and maturing at larger sizes than females. It functions primarily as a predator and scavenger, with documented cannibalism and feeding on other benthic invertebrates.
Temoridae
Temoridae is a family of calanoid copepods established by Giesbrecht in 1893. The family includes seven genera: Epischura, Epischurella, Eurytemora, Ganchosia, Heterocope, Lahmeyeria, and Temora. Members inhabit diverse aquatic environments ranging from freshwater lakes to brackish estuaries and marine coastal waters. The genus Eurytemora has been extensively studied due to its species complex containing cryptic species with significant genetic and morphological heterogeneity.
Thalassomya
Thalassomya is a genus of non-biting midges in the family Chironomidae, first described by Schiner in 1856. The genus belongs to the subfamily Telmatogetoninae and contains approximately 10 described species distributed across multiple continents. Members of this genus are associated with marine or brackish coastal habitats, reflecting the genus name derived from Greek 'thalassa' (sea).
Uca minax
red-jointed fiddler crab, brackish-water fiddler crab
Minuca minax is a fiddler crab species distinguished by its tolerance for low-salinity and freshwater habitats, extending farther inland than most congeners. Males possess one greatly enlarged claw with red joints, the source of its common name. Formerly classified in genus Uca, it was transferred to Minuca in 2016. The species is abundant in salt marshes and tidal streams along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts, with documented populations occurring more than 50 km from the sea.