Copepods

Two families

CANTHOCAMPTIDAE (Code OJ699999),

PARASTENOCARIDIDAE uncoded.

A superfamily of the Copepoda featuring short antennules which do not reach the metasome. In males the antennules are symmetrical (contrast Calanoidea). The urosome is not significantly narrower than the posterior end of the metasome. The 1st and 2nd thoracic segments are incorporated into the cephalothorax and the major body articulation is between thoracic segments 5 and 6.

Harpacicoidea are poorly known taxonomically. They are rare, epiphytic or epibenthic, and are found predominantly in saline inland waters. Some, including most or all of the family Parastenocaridae, are subterranean.

There are two families:

CANTHOCAMPTIDAE (Code OJ699999): These have the features of the superfamily.

PARASTENOCARIDIDAE uncoded: These are extremely small, very rare or else rarely seen, interstitial animals. Wormlike, with reduced swimming legs and platelike 5th legs, they reportedly occur in sandy sediments.

References:

Hamond, R. 1987. Non-marine harpacticoid copepods of Australia. 1. Canthocamptidae of the genus Canthocampus Westwood, s. lat. and Fibulacamptus, gen. nov., and including the description of a related new species of Canthocamptus from New Caledonia. Invert. Taxon. 1, 1023-1247.

Shiel, R.J. (1995) A Guide to Identification of Rotifers, Cladocerans and Copepods from Australian Inland Waters. Co-operative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology Identification Guide No. 3., Albury, NSW.

Williams, W.D. (1980) Australian Freshwater Life: The Invertebrates of Australian Inland Waters.The Macmillan Company of Australia, Melbourne.