From a short flight to eternity: Ephemeroptera (Insecta) in the Taxonomic Catalog of the Brazilian Fauna-an overview

Data from the Taxonomic Catalog of the Brazilian Fauna (CTFB), complemented by the website EphemBrazil, provide a comprehensive overview of the diversity and historical development of Ephemeroptera taxonomy in Brazil. Historical analyses reveal three distinct phases: (1) the 19th and early 20th centuries, dominated by European and later North American authors; (2) the second half of the 20^th century, marked by increasing contributions from South American researchers; and (3) the 21^st century, characterized by the consolidation of Brazilian specialists and a surge in species descriptions. Currently, 472 valid species names, distributed across 10 families and 81 genera, are recorded in the country. Leptophlebiidae and Baetidae are the most species-rich families, with 153 and 151 species respectively, followed by Leptohyphidae (59 spp.) and Polymitarcyidae (56 spp.). Endemism is high, with 280 species (59%) restricted to Brazil. Spatial patterns show a strong geographic bias, with Amazonia and the Atlantic Forest harboring the greatest richness (224 and 245 species, respectively), while the Caatinga, Pantanal, and Pampa remain poorly studied. At the state level, Amazonas (114 spp.), Espírito Santo (112 spp.), and Roraima (96 spp.) show higher recorded richness, reflecting greater sampling effort, whereas several Northeastern states have fewer than five recorded species. This geographic bias reflects the distribution of researchers, availability of resources, and asymmetries in sampling effort. Despite substantial progress, important gaps persist regarding immature stages, molecular data, and undersampled areas. Sustained training of specialists, integrative approaches, and expanded surveys are essential to refine taxonomy and strengthen the role of mayflies as bioindicators in freshwater conservation and monitoring across Brazil.

KEYWORDS:
Aquatic insect; biodiversity; Brazilian Zoology Group; database; Mayflies; Neotropics