Leptophlebiidae is a family belonging to the Ephemeropterans that are commonly known as the prong-gilled mayflies or leptophlebiids. It is the only family in the

superfamily SUPERFAMILY is a database and search platform of structural and functional annotation for all proteins and genomes. It classifies amino acid sequences into known structural domains, especially into SCOP superfamilies. Domains are functional, str ...

Leptophlebioidea. There are around 131 genera and 640 described species. Leptophlebiids are easily recognized by the forked gills present on the larvae's abdomen, thus their common name.

Larvae

Leptophlebiid larvae live in

freshwater Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. Although the term specifically excludes seawater and brackish water, it does include ...

streams and lakes eating

detritus In biology, detritus () is dead particulate organic material, as distinguished from dissolved organic material. Detritus typically includes the bodies or fragments of bodies of dead organisms, and fecal material. Detritus typically hosts commun ...

and/or

algae Algae (; singular alga ) is an informal term for a large and diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. It is a polyphyletic grouping that includes species from multiple distinct clades. Included organisms range from unicellular mic ...

. North American species generally cling to rocks, few physiologically equipped for skilled swimming. Like all Ephemeropteran larvae, fragile gills line the lateral margins of their abdomen. Some

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

grow mandibular tusks like their burrowing relatives, the Ephemeridae,

Polymitarcyidae Polymitarcyidae is a family of pale burrower mayflies in the order Ephemeroptera. There are about 10 genera and more than 90 described species in Polymitarcyidae. Genera These 10 genera belong to the family Polymitarcyidae: * '' Asthenopus'' Ea ...

, and

Potamanthidae Potamanthidae is a family of mayflies Mayflies (also known as shadflies or fishflies in Canada and the upper Midwestern United States, as Canadian soldiers in the American Great Lakes region, and as up-winged flies in the United Kingdom) a ...

Selected genera

* ''

Acanthophlebia ''Acanthophlebia'' is a genus of pronggill mayflies in the family Leptophlebiidae Leptophlebiidae is a family belonging to the Ephemeropterans that are commonly known as the prong-gilled mayflies or leptophlebiids. It is the only family in th ...

'' Towns, 1983 * ''

Atalophlebia ''Atalophlebia'' is a genus of mayflies in the family Leptophlebiidae. They can be found in Australia. Species The genus contains the following species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of a ...

'' * ''

Choroterpes ''Choroterpes'' is a genus of mayflies in the family Leptophlebiidae Leptophlebiidae is a family belonging to the Ephemeropterans that are commonly known as the prong-gilled mayflies or leptophlebiids. It is the only family in the superfamil ...

'' * ''

Farrodes ''Farrodes'' is a genus of mayflies in the family Leptophlebiidae. Like all other members in Leptophlebiidae Leptophlebiidae is a family belonging to the Ephemeropterans that are commonly known as the prong-gilled mayflies or leptophlebiids. ...

'' * ''

Habrophlebia ''Habrophlebia'' is a genus of pronggilled mayflies in the family Leptophlebiidae. There are about nine described species in ''Habrophlebia''. Species These nine species belong to the genus ''Habrophlebia'': * '' Habrophlebia antoninoi'' Alba-Te ...

'' * ''

Habrophlebiodes ''Habrophlebiodes'' is a genus of mayflies in the family Leptophlebiidae Leptophlebiidae is a family belonging to the Ephemeropterans that are commonly known as the prong-gilled mayflies or leptophlebiids. It is the only family in the superf ...

'' * ''

Leptophlebia ''Leptophlebia'' is a genus of mayflies in the family Leptophlebiidae. Species *'' Leptophlebia bradleyi'' *'' Leptophlebia cupida'' – Early brown spinner *'' Leptophlebia duplex'' *'' Leptophlebia intermedia'' *'' Leptophlebia johnsoni'' *'' ...

'' * ''

Miroculis ''Miroculis'' is a genus of pronggill mayflies in the family Leptophlebiidae Leptophlebiidae is a family belonging to the Ephemeropterans that are commonly known as the prong-gilled mayflies or leptophlebiids. It is the only family in the su ...

'' * ''

Neochoroterpes ''Neochoroterpes'' is a genus of mayflies in the family Leptophlebiidae Leptophlebiidae is a family belonging to the Ephemeropterans that are commonly known as the prong-gilled mayflies or leptophlebiids. It is the only family in the superfa ...

'' * ''

Paraleptophlebia ''Paraleptophlebia'' is a genus of mayflies in the family Leptophlebiidae. Commonly found in North America, Britain, and parts of Western Europe. Species These 57 species belong to the genus ''Paraleptophlebia'': * '' Paraleptophlebia adoptiva ...

'' * ''

Thraulodes ''Thraulodes'' is a genus of mayflies in the family Leptophlebiidae Leptophlebiidae is a family belonging to the Ephemeropterans that are commonly known as the prong-gilled mayflies or leptophlebiids. It is the only family in the superfamily ...

'' * ''

Traverella ''Traverella'' is a genus of pronggilled mayflies in the family Leptophlebiidae. Species These 13 species belong to the genus ''Traverella'': * '' Traverella albertana'' (McDunnough, 1931) * '' Traverella bradleyi'' (Needham & Murphy, 1924) * ' ...

'' * '' Kachinophlebia'' Burmese amber, Myanmar, mid-Cretaceous ( Albian-

Cenomanian The Cenomanian is, in the ICS' geological timescale, the oldest or earliest age of the Late Cretaceous Epoch or the lowest stage of the Upper Cretaceous Series. An age is a unit of geochronology; it is a unit of time; the stage is a unit in the s ...

). * '' Conovirilus'' Lebanese amber, Early Cretaceous ( Barremian)

References

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q1091880 Mayflies Insect families