Water fleas

Code OG039999

CHYDORIDAE: A family of the Cladocera (water fleas). Small sized (less than 0.5mm), hemispherical in lateral view, with a rounded rostrum which continues the line of the dorsum. The antennae are small and partially obscured by the rostrum.

The Australian fauna comprises 82 described species in 28 genera, making this the continent's most speciose cladoceran family. The taxonomy is in need of further study despite the revision by Smirnov and Timms (1983). Shiel (1995) provides a key to species of the genus Chydorus.

References:

Korovchinsky, N.M. (1992) The Sidiidae and Holopediidae (Crustacea: Daphniiformes). Guides to the Identification of the Microinvertebrates of the Continental Waters of the World. 3: 1-82. SPB Academic Publishers, The Hague.

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.

Smirnov, N.N. and Timms, B.V. (1983) Revision of the Australian Cladocera (Crustacea). Records of the Australian Museum Supplement1: 1-132.