A new genus and species of branchipodid fairy shrimp (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Anostraca) from Australia

A new anostracan genus with two new species in the family Branchipodidae is described from the Murray Darling basin, Australia. This is the first record of the family from Australia. Males of Australobranchipus typically have long and elaborate frontal appendages comparable to those in the branchipodid genera Branchipus and Pumilibranchipus. Females have a compact brood pouch like other branchipodid genera. Two new species in this genus are described (A. parooensis and A. gilgaiphila). Along with recent additions in Branchinella and Parartemia, and confirmation of the presence of Streptocephalus, these new findings change the concept of low diversity among higher anostracan taxa in Australia. Australobranchipus is also remarkable for having the shortest known life cycle of any Australian anostracans. In the type locality, which typically holds water for only two to six weeks in occasional years, and when cultured, it matures within a week and dies within two weeks, allowing these species to avoid competition with other anostracans.