Family CANACIDAE Jones, 1906
Beach Flies, Surf Flies, Surge Flies
Compiler and date details
August 2011 - Scott Ginn, Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia
Introduction
Canacidae are a medium-sized family of flies with 307 species in 27 genera currently described worldwide (Munari & Mathis 2010). The family has recently undergone some significant change with the merging of two families (McAlpine 2007) — Canacidae sensu strictu and Tethinidae into one composite family — Canacidae sensu lato. Previously each family was treated in separate world catalogues — Canacidae (Mathis 1992) and Tethinidae (Mathis & Munari 1996). Mathis (1996) published a review of Australian Canacidae, and most recently Munari & Mathis (2010) published an updated world catalogue for the revised classification. Currently, 42 species representing 15 genera are listed for the Australian canacid fauna.
The typical habitat for Canacidae is near beaches or seashores, on shoreline rocks or crevices, with their larvae usually associated with marine algae. Some species appear to have adapted to inland habitats favouring saline or freshwater environments.
General References
Evenhuis, N. (Originally by Mathis, W.N.) 9 July 2007. Family Canacidae (including Tethinidae). In Evenhuis, N.L.(ed.) Catalog of the Diptera of the Australasian and Oceanian Regions. http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/aocat/canacidae.html
Mathis, W.N. 1992. World catalog of the beach-fly family Canacidae (Diptera). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 536: iv+18
Mathis, W.N. 1996. Australian beach flies (Diptera: Canacidae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 102: 326-348
Mathis, W.N. & Munari, L. 1996. World catalog of the Family Tethinidae (Diptera). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 584: iv+1-27
McAlpine, D.K. 2007. The surge flies (Diptera: Canacidae: Zaleinae) of Australasia and notes on tethinid-canacid morphology and relationships. Records of the Australian Museum 59(1): 27-64 [Date published 30 May]
Munari, L. & Mathis, W.N. 2010. World catalog of the family Canacidae (including Tethinidae) (Diptera), with keys to the supraspecific taxa. Zootaxa 2471: 1-84
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04-Oct-2011 | 04-Oct-2011 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |