A first comprehensive dataset of the large branchiopods (Branchiopoda, Anostraca, Notostraca, Laevicaudata, Spinicaudata, Cyclestherida) of India
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Large branchiopod crustaceans play a crucial ecological and economic role as flagship species in temporary aquatic habitats. With less than 10% of the global fauna identified in the Indian subcontinent, it is essential to conduct comprehensive research that includes open access information on their diversity and distribution. Such data generation is vital as it provides key insights to support management and conservation efforts. Given the limited, fragmented and incomplete information on the diversity and distribution of large branchiopods in India, we offer the first comprehensive compilation of species occurrence records for the country. This compilation integrates data from our field collections (2020-2024) and relevant information extracted from literature (from 1859-2024). We provide 581 comprehensive records of 46 species from India, revising the names and taxonomic classification of certain species to highlight the significance of detailed, georeferenced occurrence data in improving our knowledge of large branchiopod biodiversity and distribution. Additionally, we introduce the Rshiny application, which illustrates the spatial distribution of all large branchiopod species found in India, along with their frequency across various habitat types. We provide a total of 581 open access records using a literature review and our original data from India (1859-2024), with 13 families, 15 genera and 46 species from all five orders (Anostraca, Notostraca, Laevicaudata, Spinicaudata and Cyclestherida). Each record has its current scientific name, location name, geographic information system (GIS) data of the location, date/year of collection and the waterbody type in which the species was found. Few secondary occurrences date back to more than 150 years and it is likely that these habitats (such as pools and ponds) are now destroyed; the coordinates we provide for many such habitats/regions can help in re-surveying and re-describing certain species or in future research on this group. Following the initial study, which documented 42 species from the Indian subcontinent and 38 from India, we have added four new records to the Indian checklist. A new fairy shrimp species, Streptocephalus warliae Katke, Padhye & Vanjare, 2025 was also identified from our samples. An updated RShiny app, entitled 'LbranchidistributR' is presented for visualising the spatial distribution of all large branchiopod species occurring in India, along with the frequency of occurrence in different habitat types.
Source: Biodiversity Data Journal
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $485
OpenAlex ID: W7154424682