An Initial Classification of Neotropical Water Mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) Based on Habitat Preferences

Figure 1

Recognized habitats in aquatic systems (mainly running water) for Hydrachnidia. The vertical lines represent the classification ranges; their width is in proportion with the number of taxa. The forms presented are, from top to bottom: Oxus sp. (Oxidae, planktonic, modified from Barr, 1973), Koenikea sp. (Unionicolidae, superficial, drawn from a photograph by Smith, Cook and Smith, 2001), Arrenurus diabolus Lundblad (Arrenurida, benthic, drawing by B. Rosso de Ferradás), Neomamersa falcipalpis Cook (Limnesiidae, ubiquitous stygobite, drawing by H. R. Fernández), and Wandesia andiana Cook (Hydryphantidae, phreatobite, drawing by H. R. Fernández).