Syncarids

Code ON049999

Interstitial syncarid crustaceans of small size (to 2mm) with a bilobed rostrum and a 13-segmented trunk (7 free thoracic segments). Compound eyes are absent. The first and second abdominal segments carry pleopods but the third and fourth do not. The telson may be rounded or pointed. The uropods are not held as a tail fan. The exopodite of the uropod is 1-segmented.

Stygocarididae are known from south-eastern Australia (Victoria) and New Zealand. They are not likely to occur often 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.

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