Backswimmers are a family of water bugs, Notonectidae, that swim upside down, using their long, oar-like hind legs to propel themselves through the water. Found worldwide in ponds and slow-moving water, they are active predators that feed on other insects, tadpoles and small fish, and can deliver a painful bite to humans if handled. Their common name and the family name, from the Greek for back-swimmer, both describe this characteristic inverted swimming posture.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Living or Extinct Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceConvex dorsum lightly colored without cross striations, front tarsi not scoop shaped, hind legs fringed for swimming 1 Comparison
CITES Appendix Scientific Name Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Wikidata: Backswimmer
In Biome
Source Wikipedia: Notonectidae
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Notonectidae
Introduction
Notonectidae is a cosmopolitan family of aquatic insects in the order Hemiptera
Introduction [distinguishing-appearance]
Their dorsum is convex, lightly colored without cross striations. Their front tarsi are not scoop-shaped and their hind legs are fringed for swimming.
- inhabit still freshwater lakes ponds marshes
- In Biome: Freshwater, Wikipedia intro: "a human being, actually a stab with their sharp tubular mouthparts (proboscis). They inhabit still freshwater, e.g. lakes, ponds, marshes, and are sometimes fou..."
View the Source2. Wikidata: Backswimmer
- Wikidata Q875622, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
- Wikipedia 'Notonectidae': all predators, attack prey as large as tadpoles and small fish
- Child Taxon Of: Hemiptera, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source3. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ875622, descriptionView the Source 4. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Insecta
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 28Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 28
"cites_listing":"I/II/III/NC","eu_listing":"A/B/C/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Arthropoda","class":"Insecta","order":null,"family":null},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[{"name":"Insectos","language":"ES"},{"name":"Insects","language":"EN"},{"name":"Insectes","language":"FR"},{"name":"昆虫纲","language":"ZH"}],"cites_listings":[]
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