The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek dytikos (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur in virtually any freshwater habitat around the world, but a few species live among leaf litter. The adults of most are between 1 and 2.5 cm (0.4–1.0 in) long, though much variation is seen between species. The European Dytiscus latissimus and Brazilian Megadytes ducalis are the largest, reaching up to 4.5 cm (1.8 in) and 4.75 cm (1.9 in) respectively. In contrast, the smallest is likely the Australian Limbodessus atypicali of subterranean waters, which only is about 0.9 mm (0.035 in) long. Most are dark brown, blackish, or dark olive in color with golden highlights in some subfamilies. The larvae are commonly known as water tigers due to their voracious appetite. They have short, but sharp mandibles and immediately upon biting, they deliver digestive enzymes into prey to suck their liquefied remains. The family includes more than 4,000 described species in numerous genera.
Platynectes is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, containing the following species:
Limbodessus is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, first described by Félix Guignot in 1939. It contains the following species:
Carabhydrus is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, containing the following species:
Antiporus is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, containing the following species:
Barretthydrus is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, containing the following species:
Necterosoma is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, containing the following species:
Paroster is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, containing the following species:
Sternopriscus is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, containing the following species:
Australphilus is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, containing the following species:
Batrachomatus is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, containing the following species:
Laccophilinae is a subfamily of ground and water beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are at least 410 described species in Laccophilinae.
Bidessini is a tribe of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are at least 40 genera and at least 630 described species in Bidessini.
Dytiscinae is a subfamily of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are at least 20 genera and 380 described species in Dytiscinae.
Cybistrini is a tribe of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are 7 genera and 128 described extant species in Cybistrini. The same set is also called Cybistrinae by authors viewing is as a subfamily of Dytiscidae.
Neobidessodes is a genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are about 10 described species in Neobidessodes. They are found in Australasia. The genus was first described in 2009, and the type species is N. denticulatus.
Neobidessodes flavosignatus is a carnivorous subterranean water beetle, in the Bidessini tribe of the Dytiscidae family. It was first described in 1922 by Albrecht Zimmermann as Bidessus flavosignatus. It was assigned to the genus Bidessodes by Watts in 1978, and to the new genus of Neobidessodes in 2009 by Hendrich and others.
Neobidessodes grossus is a carnivorous subterranean water beetle, in the Bidessini tribe of the Dytiscidae family. It was first described in 1922 by Albrecht Zimmermann as Bidessus grossus. It was assigned to the genus Bidessodes by Watts in 1978, and to the new genus of Neobidessodes in 2009 by Hendrich and others.
Neobidessodes bilita is a carnivorous subterranean water beetle, in the Bidessini tribe of the Dytiscidae family. It was first described in 1978 by Chris H.S. Watts as Bidessodes bilita, and reassigned to the genus of Neobidessodes in 2009 by Hendrich and others.
Batrachomatus nannup is a species of diving beetle in the family, Dytiscidae, first described as Allomatus nannup in 1978 by Chris H.S. Watts. The holotype was collected in Bridgetown, Western Australia. In a generic revision in 2013, Lars Hendrich and Michael Balke synonymised AllomatusMouchamps, 1964 with Batrachomatus Clark, 1863, thus changing the species name.
