Sand fleas

Code OP099999

CEINIDAE or HYALELLIDAE (Code OP099999)

The urosome is compact with urosome segments 2 and 3 (abdominal segments 5-6) very short and telescoped into urosome segment 1 dorsally. Uropod 3 consists of a 1-segmented peduncle, without rami or with minute rami. This uropod is of normal proportions (contrast Talitridae), extending well past the end of the abdomen. In described Australian species the antennules and antennae are subequal in length or else the antennules are longer than the antennae. The mandibles lack palps. These amphipods are fast-swimmers, and often coloured green when alive.

Ceinidae (or Hyalellidae) are common in still or slowly flowing waters, either fresh or salt, in lowland habitats. The group contains two Australian genera. The genus Austrochiltonia is placed in family Ceinidae by some workers but in Hyalellidae by others. There are two widspread varieties which may or may not represent separate species, plus a third species known only from Dalhousie Springs (South Australia). A second, more clearly ceinid, monotypic genus ( Phreatochiltonia anopthalma ) is described from Dalhousie Springs.

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.