Family GYRINIDAE

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Family GYRINIDAE

Compiler and date details

2002 - Updated by Andrew A. Calder, CSIRO Entomology, Canberra, Australia

1987 - J.F. Lawrence, T.A. Weir & J.E. Pyke

Introduction

This cosmopolitan family includes 11 genera and about 1 100 species worldwide. Four genera, 19 species and eight subspecies have been recorded from Australia. Angarogyrus Ponomarenko from the Middle Jurassic of Siberia is the earliest fossil genus attributable to the family, but the Upper Triassic Triadogyrus Ponomarenko may represent an ancestral group (Arnoldi et al. 1977). Relationships among the genera of Gyrinidae and the position of the family within the Adephaga are still in dispute. Hatch (1925) and Crowson (1955, 1960) postulated that gyrinids were advanced aquatic Adephaga derived from a dytiscid-like ancestor, while Bell (1966) and Evans (1985) considered them to be an independent lineage, representing one of three adephagan invasions of an aquatic habitat (Haliplidae; Gyrinidae; and Hygrobiidae, Amphizoidae, Noteridae, Dytiscidae). The latter view is supported by larval structure and fossil evidence, and the primitive features of the unusual North American gyrinid Spanglerogyrus albiventris Folkerts, which would be difficult to derive from those of a dytiscoid ancestor (Lawrence & Newton 1982; Steiner & Anderson 1981). Beutel & Roughley (1988) suggested that Gyrinidae are the sister-group of the remaining Adephaga and are not closely related to the other aquatic Adephaga. Their phylogenetic analysis supports the hypothesis of three independent invasions of the aquatic environment by the Gyrinidae, Haliplidae and the remaining hydradephagan groups. Further phylogenetic work based on meso- and metathoracic characters by Beutel (1990) has elucidated the relationships between gyrinid genera and strongly suggests that Spanglerogyrinae are the sister group to the remainder of Gyrinidae.

Adult gyrinids are the only coleoptera to inhabit the water surface film in both lotic and lentic habitats. They move rapidly on the surface, but are also able to dive and swim using highly modified, paddle-like middle and hind legs. They have limited ability to move about on land and are capable of flying. The eyes are transversely divided for maximum vision above and below the water and the front legs are modified for grasping prey falling onto the surface. They are usually, but not always, diurnal and they often occur in large aggregations which may include several species. (Britton 1970; Leech & Chandler 1956; Spangler 1991). Larson (1993) studied the ecology of several Australian species, representing the genera Aulonogyrus Régimbart, Dineutes Macleay, Gyrinus Müller and Macrogyrus Régimbart from the Atherton Tablelands and adjacent regions.

Gyrinid larvae are bottom-dwelling predators which breathe through 10 pairs of feathery abdominal gills and feed on a variety of soft-bodied animals such as tubificid worms, chironomid larvae or odonate nymphs. The last instar, which has three pairs of functional spiracles, climbs onto emergent vegetation or crawls onto the shore where it forms a mud or sand cocoon for pupation. Descriptions and illustrations of gyrinid larvae and further biological references may be found in Bertrand (1972), Leech & Chandler (1956) and Spangler (1991).

If one considers Spanglerogyrus to comprise the monotypic subfamily Spanglerogyrinae, then the Australian Gyrinidae represent two of the three tribes in the subfamily Gyrininae: Gyrinini (Gyrinus and Aulonogyrus) and Enhydrini (Macrogyrus and Dineutus). The genera are arranged accordingly in this catalogue. The last world catalogue of the family was that of Ahlwarth (1910). The Australian species were revised by Ochs (1949, 1956). Matthews (1980) gives an illustrated key to the three genera of South Australian gyrinids. Watts (2002) also gives illustrated keys to the Australian genera of adult and larval gyrinids.

A molecular-based phylogeny produced by Miller & Bergsten (2012) led to a revised classification for Gyrinidae, including three subfamilies: Spanglerogyrinae each comprising a single genus, and Gyrinae, comprising three tribes.