Humongochela
| Humongochela | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Dolichopodidae |
| Subfamily: | Sympycninae |
| Genus: | Humongochela Evenhuis, 2004[1] |
| Type species | |
| Humongochela hardyi Evenhuis, 2004
| |
Humongochela is a genus of flies in the family Dolichopodidae.[2] It is known from three of the Marquesas Islands, with one species on each. All three species are found on vertical surfaces near waterfalls. Flies in the genus have extremely long tarsal claws as well as extremely reduced pulvilli. These are presumed to be evolutionary adaptions to allow better grip on the slippery substrata near waterfalls. The generic name is derived from the American slang "humongous" (meaning large, monstrous) and the Latin chela ("claw"), referring to their extremely long claws.[1]
Species
[edit]- Humongochela englundi Evenhuis, 2004 – Fatu-Hiva
- Humongochela hardyi Evenhuis, 2004 – Nuku Hiva
- Humongochela polhemusi Evenhuis, 2004 – Hiva Oa
References
[edit]- ^ a b Evenhuis, N. L. (2004). "Humongochela, a new genus of waterfall-loving flies from the Marquesas Islands (Diptera: Dolichopodidae)" (PDF). Bishop Museum Bulletins in Entomology. 12: 35–43.
- ^ Evenhius, N. L. (17 April 2016). "Family Dolichopodidae". In Evenhius, N. L. (ed.). Catalog of the Diptera of the Australasian and Oceanian Regions (online version). Retrieved 17 January 2023.
 | This article related to members of the fly family Dolichopodidae is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |