The Heptageniidae (synonym: Ecdyonuridae) are a family of mayflies with over 500 described species mainly distributed in the Holarctic, Oriental, and Afrotropical regions, and also present in the Central American Tropics and extreme northern South America.[1] The group is sometimes referred to as flat-headed mayflies or stream mayflies. These are generally rather small mayflies with three long tails. The wings are usually clear with prominent venation although species with variegated wings are known. As in most mayflies, the males have large compound eyes, but not divided into upper and lower parts.

Heptageniidae
Temporal range: Turonian–Present
Rhithrogena germanica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Ephemeroptera
Suborder: Pisciforma
Superfamily: Heptagenioidea
Family: Heptageniidae
Needham, 1901
Genera

Acanthomola
Afghanurus
Afronurus
Anepeorus
Cinygma
Cinygmula
Darthus
Ecdyonurus
Electrogena
Epeorus
Heptagenia
Ironodes
Kageronia
Leucrocuta
Maccaffertium
Macdunnoa
Nixe
Parafronurus
Raptoheptagenia
Rhithrogena
Stenacron
Stenonema

Heptageniids breed mainly in fast-flowing streams, but some species use still waters. The nymphs have a flattened shape and are usually dark in colour. They use a wide range of food sources with herbivorous, scavenging, and predatory species known.

The oldest described member of the family is Amerogenia from the Late Cretaceous (Turonian) aged New Jersey amber.

References

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  1. ^ Wang, T.-Q; MCCafferty W.P. (March 2004). "Heptageniidae (Ephemeroptera) of the World. Part I: Phylogenetic Higher Classification". Transactions of the American Entomological Society. 130 (1): 11–45. JSTOR 25078834.