Leptopodomorpha
| Shore bugs and allies | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Saldula palustris | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Heteroptera |
| Infraorder: | Leptopodomorpha |
| Families | |
|
Saldidae- shore bugs | |
Leptopodomorpha is an infraorder of insects in the order Hemiptera (true bugs). Leptopodomorpha is an infraorder of the order Heteroptera that contains 300 species. These insects are also called shore bugs, or spiny shore bugs. As their name suggests, shore bugs range from being intertidal, to living near streams and lakes. Four families belong to this infraorder, the largest of which is Saldidae, which contains 270 species. Saldidae are known in particular for their jumping ability.
Leptopodomorpha fossils were found in amber in the Dominican Republic and in Mexico, both dating back to the Miocene period. Fossils of Jurassic Archegocimicidae and Cretaceous Enicocorinae have also been found, and are presumed to be Leptopodomorpha. Amber fossils have also discovered from the family Leptopodidae. They include two Recent, rare species, and eleven Old World species all collected from the northwestern region of South America.