Australian Biological Resources Study

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Family DARWINULIDAE Brady & Norman, 1889

Introduction

Darwinulidae are exclusively non-marine ostracods, but make up less than 5% of the total species diversity of extant non-marine ostracod faunas (Martens 1998). The suborder Darwinulocopina originated about 360 million years ago, but only the family Darwinulidae has survived until now (Martens et al. 1998). The family is most speciose in the Southern Hemisphere. There are 5 genera and ~30 species (Shon et. al., 2010).

 

Diagnosis

Carapace mostly 0.8 mm long or less, shape elongate subquadrate to oval. Valves smooth. Valve marginal zone with narrow calcified lamella, without selvage or continuous lists. Hinge adont. Adductor muscle scars: typical "rosette pattern". Normal pores simple. Female with a more or less inflated posterior brood space. Seven pairs of appendages. Caudal ramus absent or reduced to 1–2 short setae. Mandibular branchial plate small, maxillular one large. Fifth limb (first thoracopod) with 3-segmented endopodite, branchial plate with numerous rays. Sixth and seventh limbs walking legs.

 

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)
28-Mar-2012 28-Mar-2012 MODIFIED
30-Mar-2010 MODIFIED