''Phronima'' is a genus of small,
deep sea
The deep sea is broadly defined as the ocean depth where light begins to fade, at an approximate depth of 200 metres (656 feet) or the point of transition from continental shelves to continental slopes. Conditions within the deep sea are a combin ...
hyperiid
The Hyperiidea are a suborder of amphipods, small aquatic crustaceans. Unlike the other suborders of Amphipoda, hyperiids are exclusively marine and do not occur in fresh water. Hyperiids are distinguished by their large eyes and planktonic habi ...
amphipods of the family
Phronimidae. It is found throughout the world's oceans, except in
polar region
The polar regions, also called the frigid zones or polar zones, of Earth are the regions of the planet that surround its geographical poles (the North and South Poles), lying within the polar circles. These high latitudes are dominated by flo ...
s.
''Phronima'' species live in the pelagic zone of the deep ocean. Their bodies are semitransparent. Although commonly known as parasites, they are more technically correctly called
parasitoids
In evolutionary ecology, a parasitoid is an organism that lives in close association with its host at the host's expense, eventually resulting in the death of the host. Parasitoidism is one of six major evolutionary strategies within parasitis ...
. Instead of constantly feeding on a live host, females attack
salp
A salp (plural salps, also known colloquially as “sea grape”) or salpa (plural salpae or salpas) is a barrel-shaped, planktic tunicate. It moves by contracting, thereby pumping water through its gelatinous body, one of the most efficient ...
s, using their mouths and claws to eat the animal and hollow out its gelatinous shell.
''Phronima'' females then enter the barrel and lay their eggs inside, and then propels the barrel through the water as the larvae develop, providing them with fresh food and water.
Classification
The genus ''Phronima'' contains these species:
*''Phronima atlantica''
*''
Phronima bowmani
''Phronima'' is a genus of small, deep sea hyperiid amphipods of the family Phronimidae. It is found throughout the world's oceans, except in polar regions. ''Phronima'' species live in the pelagic zone of the deep ocean. Their bodies are semitr ...
''
*''
Phronima bucephala
''Phronima'' is a genus of small, deep sea hyperiid amphipods of the family Phronimidae. It is found throughout the world's oceans, except in polar regions. ''Phronima'' species live in the pelagic zone of the deep ocean. Their bodies are semitr ...
''
*''
Phronima colletti
''Phronima'' is a genus of small, deep sea hyperiid amphipods of the family Phronimidae. It is found throughout the world's oceans, except in polar regions. ''Phronima'' species live in the pelagic zone of the deep ocean. Their bodies are semitr ...
''
Bovallius, 1887
*''
Phronima curvipes
''Phronima'' is a genus of small, deep sea hyperiid amphipods of the family Phronimidae. It is found throughout the world's oceans, except in polar regions. ''Phronima'' species live in the pelagic zone of the deep ocean. Their bodies are semitr ...
''
Vosseler, 1901
*''
Phronima dunbari
''Phronima'' is a genus of small, deep sea hyperiid amphipods of the family Phronimidae. It is found throughout the world's oceans, except in polar regions. ''Phronima'' species live in the pelagic zone of the deep ocean. Their bodies are semitr ...
''
*''
Phronima pacifica
''Phronima'' is a genus of small, deep sea hyperiid amphipods of the family Phronimidae. It is found throughout the world's oceans, except in polar regions. ''Phronima'' species live in the pelagic zone of the deep ocean. Their bodies are semitr ...
''
Streets, 1887
*''
Phronima sedentaria''
(Forsskål, 1775) (
type species
In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen( ...
)
*''
Phronima solitaria
''Phronima'' is a genus of small, deep sea hyperiid amphipods of the family Phronimidae. It is found throughout the world's oceans, except in polar regions. ''Phronima'' species live in the pelagic zone of the deep ocean. Their bodies are semitr ...
''
Guérin-Méneville, 1836
*''
Phronima stebbingi
''Phronima'' is a genus of small, deep sea hyperiid amphipods of the family Phronimidae. It is found throughout the world's oceans, except in polar regions. ''Phronima'' species live in the pelagic zone of the deep ocean. Their bodies are semitr ...
''
Vosseler, 1901
References
External links
Google search for images of Phronima
Hyperiidea
Crustacean genera
Taxa named by Pierre André Latreille
{{amphipod-stub