Red-eyed Notonectid Backswimmer
Size about 6mm. Found in slowly flowing creek, floating near the surface. Several individuals of different size around, most smaller. Notonecta glauca is most probably wrong. Australian species keys on the web are inconclusive, examples almost non-existent. Since I don't handle animals normally (which came in handy in this case since this species can inflict a nasty bite on humans handling the animal), I only photographed its underside which points towards the surface. Like with butterflies, that normally have their wings closed and biodiversity information is collected on specimens with spread wings, this taxonomic group seems to force the interested public to handle the animal. This species is probably rather an Enithares species, still closely related to the Notonecta genus apparently, being classified in Notonectini. Always happy for a feedback.
Read More1 / 1
- No Comments