J. Limnol., 2013; 72(s2): 69-80 BIODIVERSITY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY DOI: 10.4081/jlimnol.2013.s2.e5 BRANCHIOPODA Current knowledge of the South East Asian large branchiopod Crustacea (Anostraca, Notostraca, Laevicaudata, Spinicaudata, Cyclestherida) D. Christopher ROGERS,1,2* Wipavee THAIMUANGPHOL,3 Nukul SAENGPHAN,4 La-orsri SANOAMUANG5,6 1Kansas Biological Survey and the Natural History Museum (Biodiversity Institute), Kansas University, 2101 Constant Avenue, Lawrence, 66047-3759 KS, USA; 2University of New England, 2351 Handel Street, Armidale, Australia; 3Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, 44150 Maha Sarakham; 4Faculty of Fisheries, Suphanburi College of Agriculture and Technology, 72180 Suphanburi; 5Applied Taxonomic Research Center, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, 40002 Khon Kaen; 6Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, 44150 Maha Sarakham, Thailand *Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT The large branchiopod crustaceans (fairy shrimp, tadpole shrimp and clam shrimp) of South East (SE) Asia have only recently been examined with scientific vigor. Although more than 70 species have been reported for Asia and Indonesia, only six native taxa and one introduced species are known from SE Asia. The majority of records are from Thailand, with fewer than three records each from Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Singapore. Eleven genera reported from adjacent regions may potentially occur in SE Asia. Spinicaudatan clam shrimp have been collected from Thailand and Cambodia, but have not been identified beyond genus. Four of the five native fairy shrimp species are endemic to SE Asia. The limited distributions of these few taxa suggest that this region has a distinct branchiopod fauna. In addition, we present new species and records of clam shrimp from Thailand. Future survey efforts will undoubtedly reveal additional taxa. Key words: review, Lynceus, Cyzicus pilosus n. sp., Eulimnadia sp., surveys. Received: January 2013. Accepted: April 2013. INTRODUCTION vigor and even then only from selected areas (Sanoa- muang et al., 2000a, 2000b, 2002; Sanoamuang and The extant members of the class Branchiopoda are the Saengphan, 2006). Seventy two species have been re- most primitive living crustaceans. Branchiopoda is com- ported from adjacent Eurasia and the Indian subcontinent, prised of four extant orders: the Anostraca (fairy shrimp), and only seven native taxa and one introduced species are Notostraca (tadpole shrimp), Laevicaudata (smooth clam known from SE Asia (Fig. 1). We review the known large shrimp), and the Diplostraca (Rogers, 2009; Ahyong et branchiopod taxa from SE Asia (defined as Myanmar, al., 2011). The Diplostraca is further subdivided into three Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singa- suborders: Spinicaudata (spiny clam shrimp), Cycles- pore, Indonesia and the Philippines), discuss what taxa therida (tropical clam shrimp), and the Cladocera (water may be expected to occur in this region, present new fleas) (Brendonck et al., 2008; Rogers, 2009; Ahyong et species records, and describe a new species of clam al., 2011). The Branchiopoda is artificially divided into shrimp from Thailand. two nontaxonomic groups: the large branchiopods and the water fleas for purposes of convenience, rather than METHODS on any systematic basis (Rogers, 2009). The Cladocera appear to be paedomorphic clam shrimp (Brabrand et al., The literature concerning the branchiopod fauna of 2002; De Waard et al., 2006). Asia was reviewed. Materials examined are listed in the Large branchiopod crustaceans occur in temporary taxonomic accounts below, as appropriate. Specimens and saline inland lentic habitats worldwide, including were examined using a Wild M-8 zoom stereoscope (Wild Antarctica (Brendonck et al., 2008; Rogers, 2009). These Heerbrugg, Heerbrugg, Switzerland). Identifications were crustaceans are important indicators of seasonally astatic made through comparison with material in D. Christopher aquatic ecosystem health (Rogers, 2009) and some Rogers’ personal collections, and use of the appropriate species are economically important (Baert et al., 1997; taxonomic references. All drawings were made by hand. Bo et al., 2004; Sanoamuang et al., 2000a). The taxonomic arrangement follows Ahyong et al. (2011), The large branchiopod crustaceans of South East (SE) Rabet (2010), Rogers (2006, 2009), Brendonck et al. Asia have only recently been examined with any scientific (2008), and Rogers et al. (2012). 70 D.C. Rogers et al. RESULTS taxa. However, until new and mature material is collected, these animals will remain inadequately known. Anostraca Sars, 1867 Streptocephalus sirindhornae Sanoamuang et al., 2000 (Fig. 1B) is widely distributed across Thailand, but Artemiidae Grochowski, 1896 rarely occurs in the southern peninsula (Sanoamuang et The Artemiidae is a monogeneric family of halophilic al., 2000a, 2000b). Our recent investigations show that it species found worldwide, except for Antarctica (Bren- also inhabits southern Laos and Central Cambodia. In donck et al., 2008; Rogers, 2009; Ahyong et al., 2011). Thailand, this species is widely cultured commercially in aquacultural farms as live food for freshwater ornamental Artemia Leach, 1819 fish and prawns (Dararat et al., 2011; Sriputhorn and Sanoamuang, 2011). Frozen adults and dried eggs are sold There are no records of naturally occurring popula- in local markets, particularly in North East (NE) and Cen- tions of the halophilic genus Artemia in SE Asia, although tral Thailand, and are exported to other countries, such as the genus is well known from India (Bond, 1934; Belk Taiwan and Hong Kong. Adults are harvested from the and Esparza, 1995) and China (Sars, 1901; Wei, 1992; wild, cooked and consumed by local people in NE Thai- Belk and Brtek, 1995). The United Nations agency Food land (Sanoamuang and Dumont, 2000). and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in collaboration with Streptocephalus (Parastreptocephalus) siamensis the Artemia Reference Centre at Ghent University (Bel- Sanoamuang and Saengphan, 2006 (Fig. 1C) is unique in gium) introduced Artemia francisana Kellogg, 1906 and that it is the only member of the subgenus Parastrepto- a form from China to SE Asia to facilitate the aquaculture cephalus Brendonck, Hammer and Thiéry, 1992 reported industry (Baert et al., 1997; Bo et al., 2004). Artemia fran- from Eurasia. The other members of this subgenus occur cisana is native to the Americas, and has become an in- in Africa and Australia (Brendonck et al., 1992; Herbert vasive species in Eurasia (Bo et al., 2004). The exact and Timms, 2000). The subgenus is distinguished from identity of the Chinese form is unknown (Hou et al., the nominate form by having tetrahedral eggs. Strepto- 2006). Artemia francisana was introduced to Thailand, cephalus siamensis is only known from two localities in the Philippines and Vietnam from the USA and Brasil. central Thailand and may be extinct in the wild, although Artemia sp. from China was introduced to the Philippines it is actively cultured in laboratories. and Vietnam. Other potential taxa Streptocephalidae Daday, 1910 Streptocephalus simplex Gurney, 1906 occurs across The Streptocephalidae is monogeneric, with species from the Arabian peninsula, northern India, and East into distributed across Africa, Eurasia, Australia and North Bangladesh (Bond, 1934; Belk and Brtek, 1995). It is pos- America (Daniels et al., 2004; Brendonck et al., 2008; sible that this species may occur in Myanmar. Strepto- Rogers, 2009; Ahyong et al., 2011). cephalus echinus Bond, 1934, S. longimanus Bond, 1934, and S. spinifer Gurney, 1906 also occur in India, but are Streptocephalus Baird, 1852 limited to the southern regions. South East Asian taxa An as yet undetermined Streptocephalus species be- longing to the subgenus Parastreptocephalus is reported Streptocephalus dichotomius Baird, 1860 is widely from Siaolanyu island of the southeastern coast of Taiwan distributed across India and eastern Pakistan, with a single (Li et al., 2010; Li, personal communication). record in SE Asia from Rangoon, Myanmar (Bond, 1934; Belk and Brtek, 1995; Sanoamuang et al., 2000a, 2000b; Branchipodidae Simon, 1886 Velu and Munuswamy, 2005). Streptocephalus javaensis Brehm, 1955 is reported There are no records of any branchipodids from SE from a single locality in Purwakarta, Java (Vaas, 1952). Asia (Brendonck et al., 2008; Rogers, 2009). The only It is treated here as a nomen dubium, as the original de- genus occurring in eastern Asia is Branchipodopsis Sars, scription is inadequate, and examination of Brehm’s fig- 1898, represented by Branchipodopsis affinis Sars, 1901 ures strongly suggest that the specimens are immature (Belk and Brtek, 1995). This species is widespread (Belk and Brtek, 1995). Vaas (1952) and Brehm (1955) through India, eastern China, Mongolia, and adjacent both produced figures of this species; however, those fig- parts of Russia (Belk and Brtek, 1995), and thus may occur in the northern or northwestern portions of SE Asia. ures do not match, may contain errors, and may represent two different taxa (Belk and Brtek, 1995). There are no Thamnocephalidae Packard, 1883 other records of Streptocephalus from any part of Indone- sia, so it is very likely that these specimens represent new The Thamnocephalidae is composed of six genera, South East Asian large branchiopod Crustacea: state of the art 71 with three reported from Asia (Rogers, 2006, 2009; Bren- Other potential taxa donck et al., 2008; Ahyong et al.,