ABOUT
About Ryukyu Broadchest Glossy Beetle
A small aquatic beetle recorded on Amami Oshima and Okinoerabujima. It was formerly treated as a Ryukyu-island subspecies of a mainland species, but in 2014 a study using COI gene sequencing and morphological comparison found a major genetic divergence at the species level between the two, and it was elevated to full species status. It is now generally accepted as a distinct species. The Dryopidae are a family closely related to the riffle beetles (Elmidae) and likewise live in clean streams. The detailed ecology of this species itself is still largely unknown.
SAFETY
Observation Safety Notes
Please enjoy Amami's wildlife through photographs. Some species are protected by law or local ordinance, and capturing or removing them is prohibited. In special protection zones within the national park, collecting any wildlife is prohibited entirely. Please check the notes on this page, and confirm local rules before visiting any site.
