Family LYNCEIDAE Stebbing, 1902

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Regional Maps

• Lynceidae Stebbing, T.R.R. 1902. Lynceus and the Lynceidae. The Zoologist 4 6: 101-106.

Introduction

Members of this family are easily recognised by their globose carapace without growth lines and by a very reduced anal segment which lack caudal furca. Further distinctive characteristics are given in Martin & Belk (1988) and Richter & Timms (2005).

Although three genera are known, only Lynceus occurs in Australia, and to date there are only two valid species, though more undescribed ones are known (Magdalena Zofkova, pers. comm.).

The authorship of the name is confusing. Baird (1845, 1850) described Lynceidae but did not include the clam shrimp Lynceus in it, only several cladocerans, which he described as Lynceus. Baird was unaware that Muller had already used the name Lynceus in 1776 for the clam shrimp. Norman & Brady (1867) also listed numerous cladocerans as Lynceus, but none are the same species as listed by Baird and they also did not recognise Lynceus brachyurus, the only true Lynceus described at that time (also the type of the genus). All of Baird's and Norman & Brady's Lynceus were moved into previously existing cladoceran genera in the Chydoridae by Sars. Their definitions of Lynceidae are no longer recognised. Stebbing (1902) redefined the genus Lynceus and created the modern version of Lynceidae.

General References

Baird, W. 1845. Arrangement of the British Entomostraca, with a list of species, particularly noticing those which have as yet been discovered within the bounds of the Club. History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, Edinburgh 2: 145-158 [150]

Baird, W. 1850. The Natural History of the British Entomostraca. London : The Ray Society Vol. 364 364 pp. 36 pls.

Martin, J.W. & Belk, D. 1988. Review of the clam shrimp family Lynceidae Stebbing, 1902 (Branchiopoda: Conchostraca), in the Americas. Journal of Crustacean Biology 8: 451-482

Norman, C.A.M. & Brady, G.S. 1867. A monograph of the British Entomostraca belonging to the families Bosminidae, Macrothricidae and Lynceidae. Transactions of the Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1: 354-408

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

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