Biancolina japonica Ishimaru 1996: first record of this burrowing amphipod from Australia and a review of host use in the genus Biancolina (Amphipoda: Peracarida: Crustacea)

摘要

Background Biancolina Della Valle (Monograpie 20:1893) are minute amphipods that bore tunnels into algal tissue. Their global distribution and diversity are poorly known due to their small size and concealed habit. Results Biancolina japonica Ishimaru (J Crust Biol 16:395–405, 1996) is reported from Bare Island, Botany Bay, New South Wales, Australia and is only the second species of Biancolina recorded in Australian waters following B. australis Nicholls (Rec South Aust Mus 6:309–334, 1939). B. japonica is found exclusively on species of Sargassum where it burrows into algal tissues to feed. Conclusions We report Biancolina japonica Ishimaru (J Crust Biol 16:395–405, 1996), previously known only from Japan, for the first time in Australian waters. A review of the known algal hosts of all eight species of Biancolina indicates high levels of feeding specialisation on brown algae from the order Fucales.