Freshwater invertebrates

Freshwater
Invertebrates of the Malaysian Region

23

Freshwater invertebrates
Catherine M. Yule
Monash University Malaysia, 2 Jalan Kolej, Bandar Sunway,
Petaling Jaya 46150, Selangor, Malaysia
(Email: Catherine.Yule@artsci.monash.edu.my)

INTRODUCTION
Fresh waters comprise a very small proportion of the waters of the world and the
majority of aquatic invertebrate taxa are marine. However, there are some major
groups that are found almost exclusively in fresh waters, including members of
Insecta (insects), Hirudinea (leeches), Hydrachnida (watermites), Oligochaeta
(segmented worms), Rotifera (rotifers), Branchiopoda (clam shrimps), and
Nematomorpha (horse hair worms). Crustaceans (e.g. shrimps and crabs), molluscs
(bivalves and gastropods), nemerteans (ribbon worms), nematodes (roundworms),
turbellarians (flatworms) and poriferans (sponges) have a large number of freshwater
taxa, although they are largely marine. Conversely, there are many major marine
groups that are not present in fresh waters such as the Echinodermata (sea urchins
and starfish), corals, and cephalopods (octopus and squids).
The freshwater habitats of the Malaysian region are very diverse, and include
permanent and temporary rivers, lakes, streams, freshwater swamps, peat swamps,
puddles, and phytotelmata, as well as streams and pools in caves. The tropical climate
ensures abundant rainfall, and there are no inland salt lakes that are characteristic of
environments with drier climates such as Australia. The fresh waters of the Malaysian
region are home to a wide variety of invertebrates but the majority of species are
yet to be described and some of the fauna are unknown even at the level of phylum
for example, it has yet to be established whether the Phylum Nemertea has
freshwater representatives in the region. In general, groups of medical importance
as vectors of diseases, such as parasitic protozoa and mosquitoes, are the most
well-known in the region, while many groups have barely been studied.
CLASSIFICATION
The principal classifications of animals are Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and
Species. Each of these categories may be further split into subgroups such as
subfamily, subgenus and so on. For several levels of classification, the ending of the
name given will indicate its designation. For example family names always end
in idae (e.g. Chironomidae), subfamilies end in inae, superfamilies end in oidea

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Freshwater Invertebrates of the Malaysian Region

and tribes (groups of genera) end in ini. All taxonomic names except for the names
of species start with a capital letter unless the name is used in its common form. For
example, we write Crustacea but crustacean. Often the surname of the author
who first described the taxon is given after the taxonomic name. Throughout this
book, most of the species names (and occasionally higher taxa) are cited together
with their authors and the date when the species description was published.
Names of genera and species are given in italics and their classification is strictly
regulated by the International Code for Zoological Nomenclature (Stoll 1961).
However, there is not always consensus about higher classifications. There is still
disagreement over some names (e.g. Coelenterata or Cnidaria) and levels of
classification (e.g. some authors may consider the Crustacea a phylum or subphylum,
others may categorize it as a class). In general, names and classifications given
throughout this book are those in most common use, but some groups are presently
in a state of flux as their taxonomy is being revised.
KEY TO FRESHWATER INVERTEBRATE GROUPS OF THE
MALAYSIAN REGION
The following key is partly based on those of Williams (1980) and Dudgeon (1999).
1. Unicellular (Fig. 1) .................................................................................................... Protozoa
-

Multicellular ........................................................................................................................... 2

Naegleria fowleri

Acanthamoeba
Figure 1. Protozoa

Balantidium coli

2. Microscopic ........................................................................................................................... 3
-

Macroscopic (visible to the unaided eye) .............................................................................. 4

3. Three main body regions discernable distinct head, trunk and foot. Crown of cilia (the
corona) present on head. Body may be flexible or encased in a rigid capsule, and may be
superficially segmented (Fig. 2) .................................................... Phylum Rotifera (Rotifers)
-

Tenpin-shaped, transparent, small-sized body (60770 m) composed of three regions: a

rounded head, an ovate trunk and a caudal furca formed by two adhesive tubes. Two ventral
ciliary bands running from the head up to the furcal base allow swimming or gliding on the
sediment surface. Body surface covered by a cuticle usually bearing spines and scales (Fig. 3)
........................................................................................ Phylum Gastrotricha (Gastrotrichs)

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Freshwater invertebrates

Figure 2. Rotifera

Figure 3. Gastrotricha

4. Sessile (attached to the substrate) .......................................................................................... 5

-

Free to move about ................................................................................................................ 8

5. Tentacles absent, body soft and spongy, irregular in shape, often encrusting (Fig. 4) ............
...................................................................................................... Phylum Porifera (Sponges)
-

Tentacles present, but may be contracted and difficult to see ............................................... 6

Figure 4. Porifera
6. Single individuals with tubular, contractile body (polyp) and terminal mouth surrounded by
tentacles (Fig. 5) .......................................................................................................................
................... Phylum Coelenterata (Cnidaria): Class Hydrozoa: Family Hydridae (Hydras)*
* Phylum Coelenterata is not considered further. They are poorly known in Malaysian
fresh waters.

Colonial forms ........................................................................................................................ 7

Figure 5. Coelenterata, Hydra

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Freshwater Invertebrates of the Malaysian Region

7. Branching colonies of individual polyps arranged on short upright stems (Fig. 6) .................
....................... Phylum Coelenterata: Class Hydrozoa: Family Clavidae (Colonial hydroids)
-

Colony consists of many tiny individuals each with a crown of U-shaped or circular, ciliated,
retractile tentacles (the lophophore) surrounding the mouth. Body enclosed in a gelatinous
structure. Colony may be globular, branching or encrusting. May resemble brown moss (Fig. 7)
................................................................................................ Phylum Ectoprocta (Bryozoa)

Figure 6. Coelenterata, colonial hydroid

Figure 7. Bryozoa

8. Free floating, transparent medusae (jellyfish) up to 20 mm in diameter. These alternate in the

life history with a tiny sessile polyp stage (rarely seen) (Fig. 8) ............................................
..Phylum Coelenterata: Class Hydrozoa: Family Olinidae (freshwater medusae)
-

Not free floating, transparent medusae .................................................................................. 9

Figure 8. Coelenterata, freshwater medusa

9. Shell present ......................................................................................... Phylum Mollusca ..10
-

No shell present ................................................................................................................... 11

10. Shell single (may be reduced) (Fig. 9) ......................................................... Class Gastropoda

-

Shell of two hinged valves (Fig. 10) .................................................................. Class Bivalvia

Figure 9. Gastropoda

Figure 10. Bivalvia

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Freshwater invertebrates

11. Body unsegmented and wormlike ........................................................................................ 12

-

Body clearly segmented (may be wormlike) ........................................................................ 16

12. Body dorsoventrally flattened or rounded in cross-section, soft, compressible ................. 13

-

Body typically rounded in cross-section, not soft, very slender ........................................ 15

13. Usually rather rounded in cross-section, extremely contractile and extensile. With an eversible
proboscis which is protruded from anterior end. Sometimes brightly coloured (Fig. 11) .......
......................................................................................... Phylum Nemertea (Ribbon worms)
-

Body elongate, pressed to the substrate. Move with a gliding motion. Often with a pair of
anterior eyespots ................................................. Phylum Platyhelminthes (Flatworms) ..14

Figure 11. Nemertea

14. Larger worms (>5 mm long) (Fig. 12) ....................................................... Suborder Tricladida
-

Tiny worms (usually 15 mm long) (Fig. 13) ................................................ Microturbellaria

Figure 12. Tricladida planarian

Figure 13 Microturbellaria

15. Tiny, slender worms, usually <10 mm long, typically white, body tapering to a point at each
end. Move with a whip-like wriggling (Fig. 14) ............... Phylum Nematoda (Round worms)
-

Extremely thin, thread like bodies, often very long (>20 cm), anterior and posterior ends of
body blunt. Body wall leathery. Usually dark brown to black in colour (Fig. 15) ..................
.......................................................................... Phylum Nematomorpha (Horsehair worms)

Figure 14. Nematoda

Figure 15. Nematomorpha

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Freshwater Invertebrates of the Malaysian Region

16. Without jointed limbs .......................................................................................................... 17

-

With jointed limbs ............................................................................. Phylum Arthropoda ..18

17. Body soft and worm like with more than 15 visible segments (Fig. 16) .................................
..................................................................................... Phylum Annelida (Segmented worms)
-

Body with fewer than 15 visible segments. Sclerotized mouthparts visible (may be reduced
and not protruding from thorax). Prolegs (unjointed stubby limbs) may be present on some
segments) (Fig. 17) ............. Phylum Arthropoda: Insecta larvae of Diptera and Coleoptera

B
Figure 16. Annelida, Oligochaeta

Figure 17. Arthropoda.

(A Coleoptera; B Diptera)

18. Three pairs of legs (Fig. 18) ................................................................................ Class Insecta

-

More than three pairs of legs ............................................................................................... 19

Hemiptera

Coleoptera

Ephemeroptera

Figure 18. Insecta

19. Four pairs of legs .................................................................................... Class Arachnida ..20
-

More than four pairs of legs or other appendages ......................... Subphylum Crustacea ..21

20. Body globose, tiny (< 4 mm), Head, thorax and abdomen fused (Fig. 19) ..............................
............................................................................................................. Subclass Acari (Mites)
-

Body larger (up to 30 mm). Body divided into cephalothorax (fused head and thorax) and
abdomen. Legs long (Fig. 20) ........................................................ Subclass Araneae (Spiders)

Figure 19. Acari

Figure 20. Araneae

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Freshwater invertebrates

21. Abdominal appendages absent except on last segment ........................................................ 22

-

Abdominal appendages present ........................................................................................... 27

22. With carapace ....................................................................................................................... 23

-

Without carapace ................................................................................................................. 26

23. Carapace large, dorsal and shield shaped. Leaf like appendages, numerous segments (Fig. 21)
...................................................................................... Order Notostraca (Tadpole shrimps)
-

Carapace bivalved ................................................................................................................ 24

Figure 21. Notostraca

24. Carapace enclosing thorax and abdomen, but not the head. Five or 6 pairs of thoracic appendages (Fig. 22) ............................................................................. Order Cladocera (Water fleas)
-

Carapace enclosing entire animal .......................................................................................... 25

Figure 22. Cladocera

25. Carapace smooth. Never more than two pairs of trunk appendages. Tiny (< 6mm long) (Fig.
23) .................................................................................... Subclass Ostracoda (Seed shrimps)
-

Carapace often showing growth lines. Trunk appendages numerous. Up to 25 mm long (Fig.
24) ................................................................................ Order Conchostraca (Clam shrimps)

Figure 23. Ostracoda

Figure 24. Conchostraca

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Freshwater Invertebrates of the Malaysian Region

26. Tiny <4 mm long. Pear shaped. Body segmented. Abdomen slender; four segmented. Single
median eye (Fig. 25) .................................................................................. Subclass Copepoda
-

Elongate, shrimp like body with about 20 segments. Leaf-like appendages. Swims with back
downwards. Up to 30 mm long (Fig. 26) ........................... Order Anostraca (Fairy shrimps)

Figure 25. Copepoda

Figure 26. Anostraca

27. Carapace present, extending down over sides of thorax and enclosing branchial chamber. Five
pairs of legs. Eyes on stalks (Fig. 27) ......................... Order Decapoda (Shrimps, crabs) ..28
-

Without carapace. Eyes not on stalks .................................................................................. 29

28. Abdomen folded beneath thorax. Body rather flattened and rounded. Rostrum reduced or
lacking. Tail fan absent (Fig. 27) ................................................. Suborder Brachyura (Crabs)
-

Abdomen extended and well developed. Tail fan present. Conspicuous rostrum projecting in
front of eyes (Fig. 28) .................................................................. Suborder Caridea (Shrimps)

Figure 27. Brachyura

Figure 28. Caridea

29. Body dorsoventrally flattened (Fig. 30) ........................................................... Order Isopoda

-

Body laterally compressed (Fig. 31) .......................................................... Order Amphipoda

Figure 29. Isopoda

Figure 30. Amphipoda

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REFERENCES
Dudgeon D. (1999) Tropical Asian Streams. Hong Kong University Press.
Fernando C.H. (Ed.) (2002) A Guide to Tropical Freshwater Zoolplankton. Backhuys Publishers.
Leiden.
Fernando C.H. and Weerewardhena S.R. (2002) Sri Lanka Freshwater Fauna and Fisheries. Volumes
Publishing. Kitchener Ontario.
Thorp J.H. and Covich A.P. (2001). Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater
Invertebrates. 2nd Ed. Academic Press. San Diego.
Smith D.G. 2001. Pennaks Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States. 4th Ed. Porifera to Crustacea. John Wiley and Sons. New York.
Stehr F.W. (Ed.) (1987) Immature insects. Vols.1 and 2. Dubuque. Kendall/Hunt.
Stoll N.R. Editorial Chairman (1961) International Code of Zoological Nomenclature adopted by the
XV International Congress of Zoology. International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature. London.
Williams W.D. (1980) Australian Freshwater Life. 2nd Ed. Macmillan.