Major Group: Crustacea
Minor Group: Malacostraca
Order: Isopoda
Family: Janiridae
Genus: Heterias
This family has only one freshwater genus in Australia, Heterias Richardson. |
Descriptive Features: body rectangular, depressed
head and pereonites free, with the lateral parts lamellarly expanded in most genera, pereonites subequal in length
pleon usually consists of 2 segments, when present, 1st is narrow and inconspicuous, 2nd large and shield-shaped
eyes often present, situated on upper surface
antenna 1 almost always longer than antenna 2, with 6 articles in peduncle and with generally well-developed antennal scale
mandible with palp, normally with well-developed molar process
maxillipedal palp usually with article 3 in particular, expanded, as wide as or wider than endite
pereopod 1 usually more or less prehensile, remaining pereopods ambulatory, of moderate and almost equal length
dactylus almost always with 2 or 3 claws
uropods on lateral or terminal margin, with peduncle, biramous or occasionally uniramous
Total length: up to 6 mm |
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Heterias pusilla |
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Taxonomic Checklist: Species
Heterias nichollosi Chappuis
Heterias petrensis Roberts
Heterias pusilla Sayce |
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Distribution: SA, Tas, Vic
Sensitivity Rating: SIGNAL grade 3
AUSRIVAS Taxacode: OR189999
Functional Feeding Group: shredders |
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Broken River, Benalla Vic |
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Ecology: Instream habitat: Heterias occurs in lotic and lentic waters including, caves, streams, pools and lakes.
Feeding ecology: Heterias water slaters are detritivores.
Habit: Heterias is free living.
Life history: |
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Information Sources: Hawking & Smith 1997, Poore 2002, Wilson & Wagele 1994
Key to Species: none |
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