Landhoppers

Code OP019999

The urosome is compact and the third urosome segment is short and thick. The third uropod itself is tiny, consisting of a thin, very short, 1-segmented peduncle without rami or with minute, one-segmented rami. The antennules are less than 1/2 the length of the antennae. On close examination the mandibles will be found to lack palps.

These are the terrestrial amphipods. They occur in damp places throughout southern Australia. When in water they swim in a clumsy fashion or else crawl across the bottom.

References:

Bradbury, J. H., and W. D. Williams. (1999) Key to and checklist of the inland aquatic amphipods of Australia. Technical reports of the Australian Museum, number 14.

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. Macmillan.