A preliminary analysis of the conchostracans (Crustacea: Spinicaudata and Laevicaudata) of the middle Paroo catchment of the Australian arid-zone.

Twelve species in the genera Caenestheria, Caenestheriella, Eocyzicus, Eulimnadia, Limnadia, Limnadopsis, and Lynceus have been collected from intermittent wetlands in the Paroo of northwestern New South Wales and southwestern Queensland. This is the first record of Eocyzicus from Australia. Identifications are partly tentative as the Australian fauna is poorly documented; some species seem to be new. There are many co-occurrences, especially in wetlands connected to others, but generally species are adapted for different ranges of turbidity, salinity and length of the wet phase. The high biodiversity is explained by the presence of many distinct types of wetland, each with its own characteristic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]