Austroperlidae
Family of stoneflies
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Austroperlidae is a family of stoneflies in the order Plecoptera. There are about 10 genera and 15 described species in Austroperlidae across southern land masses Australia, New Zealand, and South America.[1][2]Austroperlidae species are unique among stoneflies in having aposematic (warning) colouration.[3] For instance, the New Zealand black stonefly Austroperla is a forest dwelling shredder that is toxic to predators due to its production of hydrogen cyanide.[4] The warning colouration of this species is mimicked by several lineages of the unrelated non-toxic New Zealand stonefly Zelandoperla.[5]
| Austroperlidae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Austroperla cyrene | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Plecoptera |
| Suborder: | Antarctoperlaria |
| Superfamily: | Gripopterygoidea |
| Family: | Austroperlidae Tillyard, 1921 |
Genera
These 10 genera belong to the family Austroperlidae:
- Acruroperla Illies, 1969
- Andesobius McLellan, 2001
- Austroheptura Illies, 1969
- Austropentura Illies, 1969
- Austroperla Needham, 1905
- Crypturoperla Illies, 1969
- Klapopteryx Navás, 1928
- Penturoperla Illies, 1960
- Pseudoheptura Riek, 1973
- Tasmanoperla Tillyard, 1921
