Aquatic invertebrates

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  7. Aquatic invertebrates
  1. HOME
  2. |
  3. Environment + Biodiversity
  4. |
  5. Native fauna
  6. |
  7. Aquatic invertebrates

Invertebrates are animals without backbones or a bony skeleton

Due to their small size and cryptic habits they are often overlooked, despite the fact that they represent over 95% of the world’s species. Aquatic invertebrates play an important role in the processes and functioning of freshwater ecosystems and many are recognised as important environmental indicators.

The species below were surveyed from various waterways within the Wombat Forest including the upper reaches of the Werribee, Lerderderg, Moorabool, Loddon and Coliban Rivers including some unnamed tributaries; Nolans, Kangaroo, Wallaby, Leitches, Cockatoo and Coopers Creeks; Charlesford Dam; Wombat and Bullarto Reservoirs, Lakes Jubilee and Daylesford between 2009-2011.

 

Plecoptera (stoneflies)

 Austroperlidae

  • Acruroperla atra

Gripopterygidae

  • Dinotoperla fontana
  • Dinotoperla hirsuta
  • Leptoperla primitive
  • Leptoperla sp.
  • Riekoperla rugosa group

Notonemouridae

  • Austrocerca sp.

Ephemeroptera (mayflies)

 Baetidae

  • Baetis sp. (early instar)
  • Baetis frater
  • Centroptilum sp.
  • Cloeon sp.

Caenidae

  • Tasmanocoenis tillyardi

Leptophlebiidae

  • Atalophlebia albiterminata
  • Atalophlebia australis
  • Atalophlebiodes sp.
  • Atalophlebia sp.
  • Atalonella sp.
  • Austrophlebioides marchanti
  • Nousia sp.
  • Ulmerophlebia sp.

Oligoneuriidae

  • Coloburiscoides sp.

Oniscigastridae

  • Tasmanophlebia sp.

Siphlonuridae

  • Ameletoides lacusalbinae

Trichoptera (caddisflies)

 Calocidae

  • Tamasia variegata

Ecnomidae

  • Ecnomina sp.
  • Ecnomus pansus

Glossosomatidae

  • Agapetus sp.

Helicophidae

  • Alloecella grisea

Helicopsychidae

  • Helicopsyche spp.

Hydrobiosidae

  • Apsilochorema obliquum
  • Ethochorema spp.
  • Taschorema evansi
  • Ulmerochorema rubiconum group

Hydropsychidae

  • Cheumatopsyche spp.

Hydroptilidae

  • Hellyethira simplex
  • Hellyethira sp.

Leptoceridae

  • Lectrides varians
  • Notalina sp.
  • Notalina fulva
  • Notalina spira
  • Triplectides australicus group
  • Triplectides spp.

Philopotamidae

  • Hydrobiosella sp.
  • Chimarra sp.

Philoreithridae

  • Aphilorheithrus sp.

Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies)

 Aeshnidae

  • Aeshna sp.
  • Aeshna brevistyla
  • Hemianax papuensis

Austropetaliidae

  • Austropetalia patricia

Coenagrionidae

  • Ischnura sp.
  • Austrocnemis sp.
  • Ischnura aurora
  • Ischnura heterosticta

Gomphidae

  • Austrogompus sp.

Hemicordulidae

  • Hemicordulia sp.
  • Hemicordulia tau

Lestidae

  • Lestes sp.

Isostictidae

  • Austrosticta sp.

Cordulephyidae

  • Cordulephya pygmaea

Austrocordulidae

  • Austrocordulia sp.

Coleoptera

 Dytiscidae

  • Antiporus sp.
  • Copelatus sp.
  • Hydroglyphus sp.
  • Laccophilus sp.
  • Platynectes sp.
  • Sternopriscus sp.

Elmidae (riffle beetles)

  • Austrolimnius sp.
  • Notriolus sp.
  • Notriolus maculatus
  • Simsonia sp.
  • Simsonia tasmanica

Haliplidae

  • Haliplus sp.

Hydrophilidae

  • Laccobius sp.
  • Helochares sp.
  • Berosus sp.

Gyrinidae (whirligig beetles)

  • Macrogyrus sp.

Psephenidae

  • Sclerocyphon maculates
  • Sclerocyphon striatus
  • Sclerocyphon sp.

Scirtidae

  • Pseudomicrocara sp.

Hemiptera (true bugs)

 Corixidae (water boatmen)

  • Micronecta sp.
  • Micronecta robusta
  • Sigara sp.

Notonectidae

  • Notonecta sp.
  • Anisops sp.

Gerridae (water striders)

  • Austrobates sp.

Naucoridae

  • Naucoris sp.

Veliidae

  • Microvelia sp.

Mesoveliidae

  • Mesovelia spp.

Pleidae

  • Paraplea brunni

Hydrometridae

  • Hydrometra strigosa
  • Hydrometra sp.

Belostomatidae

  • Diplonychus sp.

Diptera (true flies)

 Chironomidae (midge larvae)

  • Cryptochironornus griseidorsum
  • Rheotanytarsus sp.
  • Riethia sp.
  • Crictopus spp.
  • Podonomopsis sp.
  • Stenochironomus sp.
  • Procladius spp.
  • Thiememanniella sp.

Tipulidae (crane fly larvae)

  • Tipulidae spp.

Simuliidae (blackfly larvae)

  • Austrosimulium torrentium
  • Austrosimulium spp.
  • Simulium spp.

Lepidoptera (aquatic caterpillars)

  • Crambidae (formerly Pyralidae)
  • Nymphulinae sp.

Hydracarina (water mites)
  • Hydracarina sp.

Bivalvia (mussels)
  • Unionida sp.

Oligochaeta (aquatic worms)
  • Nais spp.

Platyhelminthes (flatworms)
  • Temnocephalidea sp.
  • Tricladida sp.

Gastropoda
  • Hygrophilia sp.

Lymnaeidae

  • Austropeplea tomentosa

Ancylidae

  • Ferrissia sp.

Hirudinea (leeches)
  • Hirudinea spp.

Crustacea

 Decapoda (yabbies)

Parastacidae

  • Cherax sp.
  • Amphipoda spp. (amphipods)
  • Ostracoda spp. (seed shrimps)
  • Copepoda spp. (copepods)
  • Anostraca spp. (fairy shrimps)

 

  • Perla bipunctata, stonefly, INV6776 © Alison Pouliot

    Stonefly nymph (Photo by Alison Pouliot)

  • Mayfly nymph (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)

    Mayfly nymph (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)

  • Caddisfly cases (Photo by Alison Pouliot)

    Caddisfly cases (Photo by Alison Pouliot)

  • Caddisfly nymph (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)

    Caddisfly nymph (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)

  • Odonate (dragonfly) shell © Alison Pouliot Damselfly-exuvia

    Damselfly exuvia (Photo by Alison Pouliot)

  • Damselfly nymph (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)

    Damselfly nymph (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)

  • Sideswimmer (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)

    Sideswimmer (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)

  • Dragonfly in metamorphosis

    Dragonfly metamorphosing (Photo by Alison Pouliot)

  • Murray River, mussell shells MUR5538 © Alison Pouliot

    Freshwater mussels (Photo by Alison Pouliot)

  • Freshwater shrimp (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)

    Freshwater shrimp (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)

 

by Alison Pouliot