Major Group: Crustacea
Minor Group: Malacostraca
Order: Amphipoda
Family: Hyalidae (formerly in Ceinidae) |
Descriptive Features: head deeply excavate
body smooth
antenna 1 accessory flagellum absent
pereopod 3 carpus shorter than propodus
pereopod 4 coxa, with well-developed posteroventral lobe
pereopod 5 coxa, with ventrally produced posterior lobe, carpus expanded or weakly expanded
telson weakly thickened dorsoventrally or thickened dorsoventrally
females smaller than males
Total length: up to 10 mm |
|
Austrochiltonia sp. |
|
|
|
Austrochiltonia sp., female with eggs |
|
Taxonomic Checklist: Species
Austrochiltonia australis Sayce
Austrochiltonia dalhousiensis Zeidler
Austrochiltonia subtenuis Sayce
Phreatochiltonia anopthalma Zeidler |
|
Distribution: NSW, SA, Vic, WA
Sensitivity Rating: SIGNAL grade 2. Some Austrochiltonia species are euryhaline, tolerating saline water up to 30%.
Functional Feeding Group: shredders
|
|
Campaspe River, The Rocks Vic |
|
|
Ecology: Instream habitat: Hyalidae are shallow water species occurring in springs and littoral areas of lotic waters. They are found amongst algae, sedges or reeds.
Feeding ecology: Hyalid side swimmers feed on algae.
Habit:
Life history: Females may carry eggs in a brood pouch.
|
| |
Information Sources: Lowry & Stoddart 2003, Zeidler 1997, Cummins et al. 2005
Key to Genera & Species: Bradbury & Williams 1999 |
|
|
|
