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Gerridae
| Description | The Gerridae are a family of insects in the order Hemiptera, commonly known as water striders, water skeeters, water bugs, pond skaters, water skippers, or Jesus bugs. Consistent with the classification of the Gerridae as true bugs (i.e., suborder Heteroptera), gerrids have mouthparts evolved for piercing and sucking, and distinguish themselves by having the unusual ability to walk on water, making them pleuston (surface-living) animals. They are anatomically built to transfer their weight to be able to run on top of the water's surface. As a result, one could likely find water striders present in any pond, river, or lake. Over 1,700 species of gerrids have been described, 10% of them being marine. From Wikipedia article at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerridae, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Source Data |
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| Rank | family | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy (GBIF,PBDB) | Life : Animalia : Arthropoda : Insecta : Hemiptera : Gerridae | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taxonomic Status (GBIF) | accepted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classification (PBDB,GBIF) |
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| Common Name | water strider | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scientific Name | Gerridae | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name Published In | in Brewster’s Edinburgh. Ency., 9: 123 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opinions (PBDB) |
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| Status (PBDB) | extant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taxon Size (PBDB) | 38 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Extant Size (PBDB) | 10 (26%) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First Recorded Appearance | 105 - 100 Ma Cretaceous | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Environment | terrestrial (based on Insecta) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Motility | actively mobile (based on Arthropoda) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taphonomy | chitin (based on Insecta) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primary Reference (PBDB) | S. B. Archibald and R. W. Mathewes. 2000. Early Eocene insects from Quilchena, British Columbia, and their paleoclimatic implications. Canadian Journal of Zoology 78:1441-1462 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Name(s) | Skräddare, Water Striders, Pond Skaters, Water Strider, Pondskaters, Vannløpere, Vassløparar, アメンボ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wikipedia | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerridae |
External Images
Fossil Distribution
Subtaxa
| Name | Status | Common Name(s) | Fossil Occurrences | Oldest | Youngest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charmatometrinae subfamily | listed (PBDB) | 1 | 20.4 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Cylindrostethinae subfamily | listed (PBDB) | 2 | 59.2 Ma Paleocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Electrobatinae ✝ subfamily | listed (PBDB) | 2 | 20.4 Ma Miocene | 20.4 Ma Miocene | |
| Gerrinae subfamily | listed (PBDB) | 41 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Halobatinae subfamily | listed (PBDB) | 2 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Amemboa genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Amemboides genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Andersenella genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Andersenius genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Aquarius genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Archaeoptilomera genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Asclepios genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Brachymetra genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Brachymetroides ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 1 | 20.4 Ma Miocene | 20.4 Ma Miocene | |
| Calyptobates genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Celerobates genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Charmatometra genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Chimarrhometra genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Ciliometra genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Cretogerris ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 1 | 105 Ma Early/Lower Cretaceous | 105 Ma Early/Lower Cretaceous | |
| Cylindrobates ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 2 | 48.6 Ma Eocene | 48.6 Ma Eocene | |
| Cylindrostethus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Electrobates ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 2 | 20.4 Ma Miocene | 20.4 Ma Miocene | |
| Electrogerris ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 3 | 38.0 Ma Eocene | 38.0 Ma Eocene | |
| Eobates genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Eotrechus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Esakia genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Eurygerris genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Eurymetra genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Eurymetropsiella genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Eurymetropsielloides genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Eurymetropsis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Floresiobates genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Gerris genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Water Strider | 5 | 48.6 Ma Eocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Gerrisella genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Gigantometra genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Gnomobates genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Halobates genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Sea Skater | 1 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Halobatopsis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Heterobates genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Hynesionella genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Iobates genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Jucundus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Lathriobates genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Lathriobatoides genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Limnogonus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Limnometra genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Limnoporus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 2 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Lutetiabates ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 3 | 48.6 Ma Eocene | 48.6 Ma Eocene | |
| Metrobates genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Metrobatoides genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Metrobatopsis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Metrocoris genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Naboandelus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Neogerris genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Onychotrechus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Ovatametra genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Palaeogerris ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 22 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | |
| Platygerris genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Pleciobates genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Pleciogonus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Potamobates genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Potamometra genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Potamometroides genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Potamometropsis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Pseudohalobates genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Ptilomera genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Ptilomerella genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Rhagadotarsus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Rhagodotarsus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Rheumatobates genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Rheumatogonus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Rheumatometra genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Rheumatometroides genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Rhyacobates genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Stenobates genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Stenobatopsis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Stridulobates genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Stygiobates genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Succineogerris ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 2 | 38.0 Ma Eocene | 38.0 Ma Eocene | |
| Tachygerris genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Talaudia genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Tarsotrechus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Telmatometra genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Telmatometroides genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Telmatrechus ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 4 | 56.0 Ma Paleocene | 50.3 Ma Eocene | |
| Tenagogerris genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Tenagogonus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Tenagometra genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Tenagometrella genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Thetibates genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Trepobates genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Trepobatoides genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Ventidius genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Rhyscobates scorpio species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
Obsolete Names
| Name | Source | Taxon Rank | Taxonomy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gerris parabdominalis Theobald, 1937 | GBIF | species | Animalia : Arthropoda : Insecta : Hemiptera : Gerridae : Gerris parabdominalis |
| Gerris protobates Cockerell, 1927 | GBIF | species | Animalia : Arthropoda : Insecta : Hemiptera : Gerridae : Gerris protobates |
| Metrobates aeternalis Scudder, 1890 | GBIF | species | Animalia : Arthropoda : Insecta : Hemiptera : Gerridae : Metrobates aeternalis |
| Metrobates eternalis Scudder, 1890 | GBIF | species | Animalia : Arthropoda : Insecta : Hemiptera : Gerridae : Metrobates eternalis |
Synonymy List
| Year | Name and Author |
|---|---|
| 1815 | Gerridae Leach |
| 1890 | Metrobates aeternalis Scudder p. 353 figs. Pl 22 fig 15 |
| 1917 | Metrobates aeternalis Cockerell p. 391 |
| 1927 | Gerris protobates Cockerell p. 592 |
| 1937 | Gerris parabdominalis Theobald p. 254 figs. Pl XIX fig 19, 20; Pl III fig 18 |
| 1963 | Gerridae Jordan p. 700 |
| 1971 | Gerridae Popov p. 93 |
| 1993 | Gerridae Nel and Paicheler p. 81 |
| Year | Name and Author |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Gerridae Andersen p. 16 |
| 2000 | Gerridae Andersen p. 259 |
| 2000 | Gerridae Archibald and Mathewes p. 1445 |
| 2001 | Gerridae Andersen p. 412 |
| 2003 | Gerridae Wappler |
| 2008 | Gerridae Damgaard |
| 2012 | Gerridae Damgaard |
| 2018 | Gerridae Szwedo p. 112 |
References
Data courtesy of: PBDB: The Paleobiology Database, Creative Commons CC-BY licenced. , GBIF: the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, various licences, iDigBio, various licences, and EOL: The Encyclopedia of Life (Open Data Public Domain). Because fossils are made of minerals too!
