THE primitive crustacean known as apus, or Triops cancriformis (Bosc), which is of particular interest to zoologists, has only been recorded five times in Britain. It was found in 1738 in Kent¹, at the beginning of last century near Christchurch in Hampshire², a little later at Bristol³, in 1907 in Kirkcudbrightshire⁴, and in 1934 near Fordingbridge in Hampshire⁵. Last summer, at the suggestion of Prof. J. Omer-Cooper, one of the discoverers of apus near Fordingbridge, I sought it and got it again from the same pool in which it occurred in 1934⁶. It seems, then, as if apus were a permanent inhabitant of Britain and not merely introduced from time to time through its drought-resistant eggs being carried in mud on birds' feet. I am submitting a full account of my find for publication in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society. Apus may not be quite so rare in Britain as the recorded finds suggest, for Ray Lankester, in letters to Dr. W. T. Calman and Dr. R. Gurney, related that he found it on Blackheath and in Worcestershire. I should welcome news of other finds. The habitat in Hampshire is a shallow grass-bottomed pool which is waterless in dry weather.

Affiliations

1. Bedford College, University, London. June 28.

   • H. MUNRO FOX

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Publication history

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1038/162116b0

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