Water fleas

Code OG029999

BOSMINIDAE: A family of the Cladocera (water fleas). Bosminidae are distinctive cladocerans of small sized (less than 0.5mm), hemispherical in lateral view, with the elongate first antenna fused to the head and immoveable.

Two genera and two species are known from Australia, in one, Bosminopsis dietersi, the antennules are placed close together at the tip of the rostrum and with the rostrum form a Y-shaped organ. In the other, Bosmina meridionalis, the antennules taper to a point. Bosimina meridionalis is a common species in south-east Australia, Bosminopsis dietersi favours warmer locations and extends as far south as Sydney.

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 Supplement 1: 1-132.