Syncarids

Code ON059999

Interstitial syncarid crustaceans of moderate size (to 10mm). The trunk is 13-segmented (7 free thoracic segments). The rostrum is bilobed. Compound eyes are absent. The first and second abdominal segments carry full-sized pleopods but those of the third and fourth segments are much reduced. The telson may be rounded or pointed. The uropods are not held as a tail fan, and the exopodite of the uropod is 2-segmented.

Psammaspididae is an endemic Australian family recorded from the Northern tablelands of NSW and from Tasmania. There are two genera: Psammaspidesand Eucrenonaspides. Neither is common in aquatic samples.

References:

Horwitz, P., Knott, B. and Williams, W.D. (1995) A Preliminary Key to the Malacostracan Families (Crustacea) found in Australian Inland Waters. Co-operative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology Identification Guide No. 4., Albury, NSW.

Knott, B., and P. S. Lake. 1980. Eucrenonaspides oinothekegen. et sp. n. (Psammaspididae) from Tasmania, and a new taxonomic scheme for Anaspidacea (Crustacea, Syncarida). Zoologica Scripta9:25-33.

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