The diving beetle genus Hydrovatus (Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae: Hydrovatini) comprises 214 global species, with 18 in India. These beetles inhabit aquatic environments such as ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams. They are characterized by streamlined, oval bodies and robust, well-developed hind legs adapted for swimming. The Hydrovatus collection housed at the Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, was studied, and a total of eight species were identified: Hydrovatus obtusus Motschulsky, 1855; H. acuminatus Motschulsky, 1859; H. bonvouloiri Sharp, 1882; H. cardoni Severin, 1890; H. castaneus Motschulsky, 1855; H. confertus Sharp, 1882; H. fractus Sharp, 1882; and H. pinguis Régimbart, 1892. The faunistic records of these species are presented in this paper, which reports the first confirmed record of Hydrovatus obtusus Motschulsky, 1855, from India after over 125 years. This paper also includes habitus photographs and distribution maps of the studied species.
Authors: S M Sonali, Sujit Ghosh, Devanshu Gupta
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi/v125/i2s/2025/172961
Publish Year: 2025
