Shore Flies of the Galápagos Islands (Diptera: Ephydridae)

Fifteen species of shore flies, nearly doubling the number of known fauna, are reported from the Galapagos Islands. Of the 15 species, all but 2 are widespread in the Neotropics and apparently arrived on the Galapagos as introductions, which were probably independent events. The 2 apparent endemics, Philygria galapagensis Wirth and Scatella galapagensis Curran, may have speciated on these islands. The shore-fly fauna is disharmonic biogeographically, with only 11 of 20 tribes being represented. Ephydra gilvipes Coquillett (new synonym) is conspecific with E. chilensis Macquart, the senior synonym. A lectotype for Paralimna decipiens Loew is designated.