Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

<i>Cyamus balaenopterae</i> Barnard, 1931

Cyamus balaenopterae Barnard, 1931

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Family CYAMIDAE Rafinesque, 1815

Introduction

Cyamid amphipods or whale lice are exclusively ectoparasites of whales. They are found in all major zoogeographic zones and the world fauna currently comprises six genera (McCain & Steinberg 1970; Laubitz 1993; Martin & Heyning 1999; Margolis et al. 2000). Most Australian cyamid records have been documented by Sedlak-Weinstein (1991, 1992a, 1992b).

 

Diagnosis

Body dorsoventrally flattened. Antenna 2 flagellum absent. Mouthparts reduced. Mandible molar present or absent. Maxilliped outer plates absent. Pereopods 3–4 absent, 5–7 directed posteriorly. Uropod 2 absent.

 

General References

Laubitz, D.R. 1993. Caprellidea (Crustacea: Amphipoda): towards a new synthesis. pp. 965-976 in Moore, P.G. & Watling, L. (eds). Amphipods, a noble obsession: essays in memory of J. Laurens Barnard (1928–1991). Journal of Natural History 27(4): 725-988

Leung, Y.-M. 1967. An illustrated key to the species of whale-lice (Amphipoda, Cyamidae), ectoparasites of Cetacea, with a guide to the literature. Crustaceana 12(3): 279-291 [fig. 4b]

Margolis, L., McDonald, T.E. & Bousfield, E.L. 2000. The Whale Lice (Amphipoda: Cyamidae) of the Northeastern Pacific region. Amphipacifica 2(4): 63-117

Martin, J.W. & Heyning, J.E. 1999. First record of Isocyamus kogiae Sedlak-Weinstein, 1992 (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Cyamidae) from the eastern Pacific, with comments on morphological characters, a key to the genera of the Cyamidae, and a checklist of cyamids and their hosts. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 98(1): 26-38

McCain, J.C. & Steinberg, J.E. 1970. Part 2. Amphipoda I Caprellidea I Fam. Caprellidae. pp. 1-78 in Gruner, H.-E & Holthuis, L.B. (eds). Crustaceorum Catalogus. Den Haag : Dr W. Junk N.V.

Rafinesque, C.S. 1815. Analyse de la nature, ou tableau de l'univers et des corps organises. Palermo (Italy) : Privately Published 224 pp. [Date published April to July]

Sedlak-Weinstein, E. 1991. Three new records of cyamids (Amphipoda) from Australian cetaceans. Crustaceana 60(1): 90-104

Sedlak-Weinstein, E. 1992a. A new species of Isocyamus (Amphipoda: Cyamidae) from Kogia breviceps (De Blainville, 1838) in Australian waters. Systematic Parasitology 23(1): 1-6

Sedlak-Weinstein, E. 1992b. The occurrence of a new species of Isocyamus (Crustacea, Amphipoda) from Australia and Japanese Pilot Whales, with a key to species of Isocyamus. Journal of Natural History 26: 937-946

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
05-Aug-2022 AMPHIPODA 29-Apr-2013 MODIFIED Dr Jim Lowry (AM)
05-Aug-2022 22-Nov-2012 MODIFIED
05-Aug-2022 19-Dec-2011 MODIFIED
16-Feb-2011 MODIFIED