Introduction

The Artemiidae contain the single genus Artemia of about eight species and innumerable varieties and strains. It has a worldwide distribution, including Australia.

Males are distinctive because the second antennal distal segment is flattened and enlarged mesially and the penes bases lack processes and spines (Criel & Macrae 2002). They share some features with Parartemia, and hence some authors group them together as the suborder Artemiina (Weekers et al. 2002), but the above features are distinctive.

Australia has only one species, largely introduced to salt works. Three other species have been described but are nomina dubia. Artemia parthenogenetica is a nomen nudum because no types were designated. Nevertheless the "species" presence in coastal WA has been discussed (McMaster et al., 2002).

 

General References

Bowen, S.T. & Sterling, G. 1978. Esterase and malate dehydrogenase isoenzyme polymorphisms in 15 Artemia populations. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. B. Comparative Biochemistry 61: 593-595

Criel, G. & Macrae, T. 2002. Artemia, Morphology and Structure. pp. 1-37 in Abatzopoulos, T., Beardmore, J., Clegg, J. & Sorgeloos, P. (eds). Artemia: Basic and Applied Biology. Dordrecht : Kluwer Academic Publisher 286 pp.

McMaster, K., Savage, A., Finston, T., Johnson, M.S. & Knott, B. 2002. Has Artemia parthenogenetica been introduced into Western Australia through human agency? Paper present at the 8th International Conference on Salt Lakes, Zhemehuzhny, Russia, 23-26 July, 2002.

Weekers, P.H.H., Murugan, G., Vanfleteren, J.R., Belk, D. & Dumont, H.J. 2002. Phylogenetic analysis of anostracans (Branchiopoda: Anostraca) inferred from nuclear 18S ribosomal DNA. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 25: 535-544

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
03-Sep-2018	ANOSTRACA Sars, 1867	28-Aug-2018	MODIFIED
13-Mar-2025		18-Dec-2012	MODIFIED
13-Mar-2025		18-Aug-2010	MODIFIED
		12-Feb-2010	(import)