As described on the first page, Brachypoda mites have a somewhat flattened body shape. Furthermore, they seem to have a sort of armour, comparable to that of the Arrenurus species, but probably not as strong: I have seen them crack more easily under the pressure of a cover glass. The detail photo above shows the structure of the armour and part of the seam or groove, with which the back and abdomen lie against each other. According to the literature, the parts are not attached to each other.
This top view shows the colouring, by which Brachypoda can be recognized directly with a magnifying glass: the striking black band over the light spots. The front is often a beautiful bright blue. The species name versicolor seems appropriate. Below are some colour variations. The outline of the female is somewhat more square, compared to the somewhat narrower, inverted egg-shaped outline of the male.

The photos below give a good impression of the special body shape of this water mite species. Especially the 'overhanging' front is striking. Note the somewhat sharp edge, where the back part of the dorsal plate lies against the ventral part.

Below left: a (female) specimen is sitting against an air bubble, the edge of that bubble is the dark band at the top left of the left photo. The right photo is a detail of the left one. There is a ridge in front of the eyes: that is part of the above-mentioned seam or groove.