Family LIMNADIIDAE Baird, 1849

Limnadopsis birchii

© Copyright B. Timms. Avondale College, NSW.

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Introduction

Limnadiids generally have thin rounded transparent valves with the umbo poorly developed or absent, and growth lines in the peripheral zone only (except in Limnadopsis). All have a pear-shaped organ behind the eyes.

Three genera occur in Australia, but their status is confused. While Limnadia and Eulimandia are separated by the absence/presence of a spine on the lower distal angle of the telson, it is not clear that these are equivalent to the definition of these genera overseas (Sadie Reed, pers. comm.; Christopher Rogers, pers. comm.). Limnadopsis, an Australian endemic, is sometimes split into two genera and both accommodated in a new family (the Limnadiopseidae) (Novojilov 1958; Brtek 1997; Naganawa 2001). Dumont & Negra (2002) place this group as a subfamily Limnadopsinae within the Limnadiidae. Martin & Davis (2001) and Richter & Timms (2005) do not recognise any of these proposals and maintain the status quo. The problem is not resolved.

Weeks et al. (2006) surveyed the distribution of the family in Australia, and gave figures on sex ratios for species they collected.

General References

Brtek, J. 1997. Checklist of the valid and invalid names of the “Large Branchiopods” (Anostraca, Notostraca, Spinicaudata and Laevicaudata), with a survey of the taxonomy of all Branchiopoda. Zborník Slovenského Národného Múzea. Prírodné Vedy 43: 3-66

Dumont H.J. & Negrea, S.V. 2002. Introduction to the Class Branchiopoda Guides to the Identifcation of the Microinvrtebrates of the Continuental Waters of the World. Leiden : Backhuys Publishers Vol. 19 398 pp.

Martin, J.W. & Davis, G.E. 2001. An updated classification of the recent Crustacea. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Science Series 39: 1-124

Naganawa, H. 2001. Current prospect of the large branchiopod fauna of East Asia. 3. Revised classification of the recent Spinicaudata. Aquabiology 23(3): 291-299

Novojikov, N. 1958. Recueil d'articles sur les Phyllopodes Conchostracés. Ann. Serv. Inf. Géol. BRGGM 26: 5-134

Richter, S. & Timms, B.V. 2005. A list of recent clam shrimps (Crustacea: Laevicaudata, Spinicaudata, Cyclestherida) of Australia, including a description of a new species of Eocyzicus. Records of the Australian Museum 57: 341-354

Weeks, S.C., Zofkova, M. & Knott, B. 2006. Limnadiid clam shrimp distribution in Australia (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Spinicaudata). Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 89: 155-161

History of changes