Branchinella
Branchinella is a genus of crustaceans in the family Thamnocephalidae. This fairy shrimp genus is found across many parts of the world, but especially western Australia and southern Africa.
Several species have small ranges and are threatened by habitat destruction. For example, B. latzi is only known from south Northern Territory and southwest Queensland, but it has been extirpated from the Uluru region due to pollution from urine and faeces of tourists.
The species Branchinella kugenumaensis are known as "Honen shrimp" in Japan, and are commonly found in rice fields during the early summer.
Selected species
Branchinella includes the following species:Branchinella acacioidea Belk & Sissom, 1992Branchinella affinis Linder, 1941Branchinella alachua Dexter, 1953Branchinella apophysata Linder, 1941Branchinella arborea Geddes, 1981Branchinella australiensis Branchinella basispina Geddes, 1981Branchinella buchananensis Geddes, 1981Branchinella chudeaui Branchinella compacta Linder, 1941Branchinella complexidigitata Timms, 2003Branchinella denticulata Linder, 1941Branchinella dubia Branchinella frondosa Henry, 1924Branchinella halsei Timms, 2003Branchinella hardingi Branchinella hattahensis Geddes, 1981Branchinella kadjikadji Timms, 2003Branchinella kugenumaensis Branchinella latzi Geddes, 1981Branchinella lithaca Branchinella longirostris Wolf, 1911Branchinella lyrifera Linder, 1941Branchinella madurai Raj, 1951Branchinella mcraeae Timms, 2005Branchinella minuta Rœn, 1952Branchinella multidigitata Timms, 2008Branchinella nana Timms, 2003Branchinella nichollsi Linder, 1941Branchinella occidentalis Dakin, 1914Branchinella ondonguae Branchinella ornata Daday, 1910Branchinella papillata Timms, 2008Branchinella pinderi Timms, 2008Branchinella pinnata Geddes, 1981Branchinella proboscida Henry, 1924Branchinella simplex Linder, 1941Branchinella spinosa Branchinella sublettei Sissom, 1976Branchinella thailandensis Sanoamuang, Saengphan & Murugan, 2002Branchinella vosperi Timms, 2008Branchinella wellardi Milner, 1929Some related fairy shrimp, such as Phallocryptus wrighti, were formerly placed in Branchinella.