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)

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.

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