Baetis (Rhodobaetis) Jacob, 2003

Gattolliat, Jean-Luc, Samraoui, Boudjema, Benhadji, Nadhira, Kechemir, Lina, Zrelli, Sonia, El Yaagoubi, Sara, El Moutaouakil, Majida El Alami & Sartori, Michel, 2023, Baetidae (Baetidae, Ephemeroptera) in the Maghreb: state of the art, key, and perspectives, ZooKeys 1139, pp. 137-163 : 137

3.3 Baetis (Rhodobaetis) Jacob, 2003

Diagnosis.

1) Gills with spine-like setae along the costal margin; 2) Distal margin of tergites with spatulas in addition to triangular spines; 3) paracercus length 2/3 of cerci.

Remarks.

The subgenus Baetis Rhodobaetis is widely distributed in the Maghreb where it colonizes all types of running waters. Colouration, size, setation of legs and degree of development of the spine-like setae on the gills are highly variable, but may also represent plasticity and intraspecific variations. Three species of Baetis Rhodobaetis are reported from Maghreb with certainty: Baetis (Rhodobaetis) atlanticus Soldán & Godunko, 2006 (Fig. 4A ), Baetis (Rhodobaetis) chelif Soldán, Godunko & Thomas, 2005 and Baetis (Rhodobaetis) sinespinosus Soldán & Thomas, 1983. Reports of Baetis (Rhodobaetis) rhodani (Pictet, 1843) in Maghreb probably concern misidentification of one of the three species mentioned above. In most cases, B. (R.) rhodani must be considered sensu lato and by consequence as equivalent to Rhodobaetis . Distinction of the three species is rather difficult as important intraspecific variations have been found at least in B. (R.) atlanticus . Only two reliable characters allow the separation of the three species: B. (R.) sinespinosus has no scale at the tip of maxillary palp and four rows of setae at apex of paraglossae; B. (R.) atlanticus and B. (R.) chelif have one scale at the tip of maxillary palp and differ by number of rows at the apex of paraglossae (three in B. (R.) atlanticus and four in B. (R.) chelif ) ( Soldán and Thomas 1983a; Soldán et al. 2005; Soldán and Godunko 2006). The three species are at least partially sympatric and can be collected in the same site. Specific identification is therefore very difficult. It requires high expertise and slides preparation; it should be also corroborated by molecular analysis.

Figures

Figure 4. Baetidae: larvae in toto in dorsal view A Baetis (Rhodobaetis) atlanticus B Centroptilum alamiae C Cheleocloeon dimorphicum D Cheleocloeon dimorphicum (ready to molt specimen) E Cloeon peregrinator F Labiobaetis cf. neglectus.