Family THAMNOCEPHALIDAE

Branchinella mcraei

© Copyright B. Timms. Avondale College, NSW.

Museums

Regional Maps

Introduction

The Thamnocephalidae, as presently understood, comprise six genera, Branchinella, Branchinellites, Dendrocephalus, Gurneya, Simplicephalus and Thamnocephalus, of which only the widespread Branchinella occurs in Australia. This genus has radiated here and at present 31 species are described, with others known but not yet documented (Timms 2004, 2005, unpublished data). The genus, and indeed family, are in need of revision (Brendonck 1997; Brendonck & Riddoch 1997; Brendonck & Belk 1997; Rogers 2003). Rogers (in press) suggests that all the Australian species of Branchinella are distinct from the species found elsewhere and he separates them into a different subgenus.

Thamnocephalids are characterised by the eversible portion of the penes having its dorsolateral surface with a single longitudinal row of large posteriorly directed spines, and also the distal half to two-thirds with small spines scattered or in rows. Males may or may not have a frontal appendage, and if present, it is highly variable between species. Females are unremarkable. Some species are widespread, but most have apparently restricted distributions (Geddes 1981; Timms 2004). They occur in a wide range of freshwaters and some penetrating saline waters where Parartemia generally dominates.

General References

Brendonck, L. 1997. The anostracan genus Branchinella (Crustacea: Branchiopoda), in need of a taxonomic revision; evidence from penile morphology. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 119: 447-455

Brendonck, L. & Belk, D. 1997. On potentials and relevance of the copulatory structures in Anostracan taxonomy. Hydrobiologia 359: 83-92

Brendonck, L. & Riddoch, B. 1997. Anostraca (Branchiopoda) of Botswana: Morphology, distribution, diversity, and endemicity. Journal of Crustacean Biology 17: 111-134

Geddes, M.C. 1981. Revision of Australian species of Branchinella (Crustacea: Anostraca). Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 32: 253-295

Rogers, D.C. 2003. Revision of the Thamnocephalid genus Phallocryptus (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Anostraca). Zootaxa 27: 1-14

Rogers, D.C. 2006. A genus level revision of the Thamnocephalidae (Crustacea; Branchiopoda; Anostraca). Zootaxa 1260: 1-25

Timms, B.V. 2004. An Identification Guide to the Fairy Shrimps (Crustacea: Anostraca) of Australia. CRCFC Identification and Ecology Guide No 47, Thurgoona, NSW. 76 pp.

Timms, B.V. 2005. Two new species of Branchinella ( Anostraca: Thamnocephalidae) and a reappraisal of the Branchinella nichollsi group. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 50(2): 441-452

History of changes