TAXONOMY, DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS OF THE DYTISCIDAE (COLEOPTERA) OFETHIOPIA

The 168 species of Dytiscidae known from Ethiopia are listed. For each species are given: original citation, synonyms, gross distribution, a nd distribution in Ethiopia with special reference to altitude and pro vinces. Besides literature records and museum specimens, 7300 individu als of 53 species collected by the junior author chiefly in the Arssi highlands in 1988 and 1989 are reported on. One syn. n. is presented: Rhantus longulus Regimbart, 1895 = Rhantus flavicollis Regimbart, 1887 . Most of the 38 species endemic to Ethiopia occur only over 2000 m a. s.l., and the proportion of endemic species is highest in the Gondar, Shoa, Arssi and Bale provinces. The fauna of most provinces is poorly known. The Shoa province is best known, with 92 species recorded. In t he Arssi highlands, the maximum local diversity was near 20 species in both lentic and lotic biotopes. The specie's richness of different su praspecific taxa is discussed and information is presented on co-occur rence of congeneric species and proportions of rare and frequent speci es.