Nanosaphes


Nanosaphes is a Neotropical genus of water scavenger beetles in the family Hydrophilidae represented by seven described species known from the Guiana Shield Region.

Taxonomy

The genus Nanosaphes was described for the first time by Girón & Short in 2018.
It belongs in the subfamily Acidocerinae and contains seven described species from Brazil, Guyana, and Suriname.

Description

Tiny beetles, smooth and shiny dorsally, yellowish-brown to dark brown in coloration, with long maxillary palps. The most salient characteristic of the genus is the minute size of its members. A complete diagnosis was presented by Girón and Short.

Habitat

According to Girón and Short "species are associated with stream margins, particularly where there are marginal banks of sand and roots.".

Species

  1. Nanosaphes castaneus Girón and Short, 2018
  2. Nanosaphes hesperus Girón and Short, 2018
  3. Nanosaphes punctatus Girón and Short, 2018
  4. Nanosaphes tricolor Girón and Short, 2018