Major Group: Crustacea
Minor Group: Malacostraca
Order: Amphipoda
Family: Chiltoniidae (formerly 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 |
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Austrochiltonia sp. |
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Austrochiltonia sp., female with eggs |
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Taxonomic Checklist: Species
Arabunnachiltonia murphyi King
Austrochiltonia australis Sayce
Austrochiltonia clydensis King & Leys
Austrochiltonia cooperi King & Leys
Austrochiltonia dalhousiensis Zeidler
Austrochiltonia subtenuis Sayce
Phreatochiltonia anopthalma Zeidler
Wangiannachiltonia guzikae King |
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Distribution: NSW, SA, Vic, WA, Tas
Sensitivity Rating: SIGNAL grade 2. Some Austrochiltonia species are euryhaline, tolerating saline water up to 30%.
Functional Feeding Group: shredders
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Campaspe River, The Rocks Vic |
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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.
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Information Sources: King & Leys 2011, Lowry & Stoddart 2003, King & Bradbury 2012, Zeidler 1997, Cummins et al. 2005
Key to Genera: King & Bradbury 2012
Key to Species: King & Leys 2011, King & Bradbury 2012 (same key) These keys do "not include all Australian chiltoniid species. Currently the key is only useful to identify the freshwater surface species from Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia (but not including Kangaroo Island and Eyre Penisular)." |
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