A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF LARGE LIMNADIID CLAM SHRIMP FROM AUSTRALIA (SPINICAUDATA: LIMNADIIDAE)

A large limnadiid, here described as Australimnadia gigantea n. gen., n. sp., is shown to be different from all known Australian Eulimnadia, Paralimnadia, and Limnadopsis, though somewhat similar to the widespread Holarctic species Limnadia lenticularis. It differs from this species in many features, including having the caudal filaments inserted at the le spine in the telsonic spine row, numerous long plumose setae on the caudal furca, the common occurrence of males and in the detailed surface morphology of the egg. The morphological uniqueness of A. gigantea is supported molecularly. Australimnadia gigantea is sparsely distributed in northern and eastern Australia.