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 Major Groups | Crustacea (crustaceans) | Malacostraca (malacostracans) | Bathynellacea (bathynellaceans)
 

Bathynellacea (bathynellaceans)

Major Group: Crustacea
Minor Group: Malacostraca
Order: Bathynellacea
Bathynellacea is included in a group of three malacostracan orders – Anaspidacea, Bathynellacea, Palaeocaridacea (extinct) - known as Syncarida.

Descriptive Features:

  • small, vermiform shape
  • thoracomere 1 free from cephalon
  • pleonites 1-5 separate, pleonite 6 fused to telson
  • pleotelson with furca
  • eyes absent
  • antenna 1 inner flagellum minute, with 3 setae
  • antennal statocysts absent
  • mandibles symmetrical, left incisor fused to an accessory process
  • paragnaths present or absent
  • thoracopods 1-7 with endopod up to 4-articled, with exopod
  • epipods present on thoracopods 1-5 or 1-6
  • pleopods 1 and 2 often present
  • uropods not forming a tailfan with telson
  • Total length: up to 3.4 mm

    • Taxonomic Checklist:

    Families

    Bathynellidae
    Parabathynellidae
     

    Distribution: Qld, NSW, Vic, Tas, SA, WA

    Sensitivity Rating: none

    Functional Feeding Group: shredders

    Ecology: Instream habitat: Syncarids prefer cool to cold permanent water or water linked to groundwater systems as no stage of the lifecycle can withstand desiccation. Bathynellaceans occur in aquifers and the hyporheic zone of sand and gravel riverbeds. They are prominent in the interstitial groundwater fauna and as such may be important in groundwater carbon/energy cycles and water purification.
    Feeding ecology: All Bathynellacea species are detritivores.
    Habit:
    Life history: The method of reproduction is uncertain but females lay one or two large eggs.
     
     
    Information Sources: Poore 2002, Serov 2002
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