Supratidal-rockpools

Guides

Ochthebius
minute moss beetles
Ochthebius is a large genus of minute moss beetles in the family Hydraenidae, comprising at least 460 described species. These tiny beetles are predominantly associated with aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats, particularly supratidal rockpools, coastal marshes, and freshwater spray zones. Many species exhibit narrow habitat preferences and restricted distributions, with numerous endemic taxa. The genus shows significant diversity in the Mediterranean region, Africa, and other parts of the world, and includes several cryptic species complexes.
Hydraenidae minute-moss-beetles water-beetles supratidal-rockpools coastal-habitats cryptic-species Mediterranean-fauna African-fauna multivoltine endemic-species conservation population-genetics habitat-fragmentation extreme-environments spray-zone-beetles