Anaspidesidae


Anaspidesidae is a family of freshwater crustacean that is endemic to Tasmania, Australia. The family contains 3 living genera. This group of crustaceans are considered living fossils. They are commonly and collectively known as the Tasmanian anaspid crustaceans.
This family is originally called as Anaspididae. However, genus name Anaspis was preoccupied by the insect genus, Anaspis Geoffroy, 1762, and therefore, in 2017, the family was renamed to Anaspidesidae by Shane Ahyong and Miguel A. Alonso-Zarazaga.
Anaspiesids have stalked eyes, long antennae and antennules, and a slender body with no carapace. The two species of Allanaspides and the single species of Paranaspides are all listed as vulnerable on the IUCN [Red List].

Taxonomy

After Höpel et al.