Family BRACHYSTOMATIDAE Melander, 1908

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• BRACHYSTOMATIDAE Melander, 1908.

Introduction

Recognition of the Brachystomatidae is somewhat contentious. Although it was first described as a subfamily (Brachystomatinae Melander, 1908), it was later elevated to family level by Sinclair & Cumming (2006: 80) based on morphology. Wahlberg & Johanson (2018) later reverted it to subfamily level based on molecular phylogenetic data, where it recovered as sister to the Empididae subfamilies Empidinae and Hemerodromiinae. Sinclair (2017) later raised it back to family level, noting that the group is difficult to characterise morphologically, although its subfamilies and genera are readily distinguishable.

Here we retain the use of Brachystomatidae until further studies with expanded taxonomic sampling can resolve its rank status.

General References

Sinclair, B.J. 2017. Brachystomatidae. pp. 1251-1256 in Kirk-Spriggs, A.H. & Sinclair, B.J. Manual of Afrotropical Diptera. Volume 2. Nematocerous Diptera and lower Brachycera. Pretoria : Suricata 5. South African National Biodiversity Institute pp.

Sinclair, B.J. & Cumming, J.M. 2006. The morphology, higher-level phylogeny and classification of the Empidoidea (Diptera). Zootaxa 1180: 1-172

Wahlberg, E. & Johanson, K.A. 2018. Molecular phylogenetics reveals novel relationships within Empidoidea (Diptera). Systematic Entomology 43: 619–636

History of changes