Leptophlebiidae
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| Leptophlebiidae | ||||||||||
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Choroterpes |
Leptophlebiidae is a family belonging to the Ephemeropterans that are commonly known as the prong gilled mayflies. Consisting of 9 genera and 70 species spend across freshwater streams and lakes around North America. World wide, this family is much more prevalent and diverse, with about 2000 different species. Leptophlebiids are easily recognized by the forked gills present on the larvae's abdomen, thus their common name.
[edit] Larvae
Leptophlebiid larvae live in freshwater streams and lakes eating detritus and/or algae. North American species generally cling to rocks, few physiologically equipped for skilled swimming. Like all Ephemeropteran larave, fragile gills line the lateral margins of their abdomen, however, Leptophlebiids are unique in that all of their gills are forked. Some genera grow mandibular tusks like their burrowing relatives, the Ephemeridae, Polymitarcyidae, and Potamanthidae.
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