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Whirligig Beetle

Insects

Whirligig beetles are water beetles comprising the family Gyrinidae that usually swim on the surface of the water if undisturbed, though they swim underwater when threatened. They get their common name from their habit of swimming rapidly in circles when alarmed, and are notable for divided eyes believed to let them see both above and below the waterline. The family includes some 700 living species worldwide in 15 genera, ranging from about 3 to 18 millimeters long, and belongs to the beetle suborder Adephaga, which also includes ground beetles and diving beetles.

Facts
Classification
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 2
System (Realm)
Freshwater 2
Living or Extinct
Yes 3
Partially Attested
Scientific Name
Gyrinidae 1
Source gives family Gyrinidae, not a single species
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
Steely grey or bronze, flattened ellipsoid body, divided eyes 1
Comparison
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 4
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Coleoptera, Taxa
Source Wikidata: Gyrinidae

In Biome

River, Biomes
Source Whirligig beetle (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Colombia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Denmark

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Norway

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sweden

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

United States

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. Whirligig beetle (Wikipedia)
  • Lead paragraph
    comprising the family Gyrinidae
  • Description
    Most species are coloured steely grey or bronze.
  • In Biome: River, Behavior and morphological adaptations
    Like the adults, the larvae are active predators, largely benthic inhabitants of the stream bed and aquatic plants.
View the Source
2. GBIF Species API
GBIF Species APIView the Source
3. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ756089, descriptionView the Source
4. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Insecta
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 28
Quote, 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":[]
View the Source
Wikidata: Gyrinidae
  • Wikidata Q756089, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
  • Child Taxon Of: Coleoptera, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Coleoptera
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 56
Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 56
"cites_listing":"II/III/NC","eu_listing":"B/C/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Arthropoda","class":"Insecta","order":"Coleoptera","family":null},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[{"name":"鞘翅目","language":"ZH"}],"cites_listings":[]
View the Source
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