Review of the large branchiopod crustacean fauna of the Indian subcontinent (Anostraca, Notostraca, Laevicaudata, Spinicaudata, Cyclestherida)

Abstract

The large branchiopod crustaceans (fairy shrimp, tadpole shrimp, and clam shrimp) of India have been examined with varying degrees of scientific rigour since the late 1800s. Although 86 nominal species have been reported for India, the validity of many is in question – particularly for the clam shrimp. Most Indian endemic taxa are poorly described; some lack type material or the type material has been lost. Most recent revisions of key groups have made no attempt to validate identifications using existing type material, or even to procure topotype material. Worse, recent reviews treat old synonyms as valid names without any analysis or explanation. We provide a review of the taxa from the Indian subcontinent (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) taking a strongly conservative approach to assessing the reported species. We recognize only 42 species: 16 anostracans, 2 notostracans, 3 laevicaudatans, 21 spinicaudatans (with reservations), and a single species of cyclestherid. This should establish a base point for future work on the branchiopods of the subcontinent.