Crustacea, the Higher Taxa

J.K. Lowry

Notostraca (Branchiopoda)

Common name. Shield Shrimps.

Description. Head. Rostrum absent; eyes sessile; compound, visual elements present; ocular scale absent; naupliar eyes present. Antennules (antenna 1) uniramous; peduncle and flagellum indistinguishable; exopod well developed, whip-like. Antennae (antenna 2) reduced, vestigial or absent. Mandible uniramous; palp absent. Maxillipeds, absent. Thorax. Carapace present, univalved, enclosing head and thorax, dorsoventrally flattened, smooth. Thorax and abdomen differentiated. Peraeopods (legs) 10 to 32 (usually 11) pairs; phyllopodous (broad or narrow); differentiated (some prehensile). Abdomen with more than 12 somites. Epimera absent. Pleopods absent. Uropods well developed, 1 pair, positioned ventrolaterally; rami absent; whip-like. Telson fused to pleon (pleotelson).

Larval development. Anamorphic. Embryos carried in ventral brood pouch attached to peraeopod 11.

Habitat. Freshwater, brackish or saline temporary ponds, shallow lakes, peat bogs and moors.

Distribution. Worldwide.
