Phronima
Encyclopedia
Phronima is a small, deep sea
hyperiid
amphipod of the family Phronimidae. It is found throughout the world's oceans, except in polar region
s. The body of Phronima is transparent. Females attack salp
s, using their mouth and claws to eat the animal and hollow out its gelatinous shell. She then enters the barrel and lays her eggs inside. She then propels the barrel through the water as the larvae develop, providing them with fresh food and water.
The genus Phronima contains the following species:
Deep sea
The deep sea, or deep layer, is the lowest layer in the ocean, existing below the thermocline and above the seabed, at a depth of 1000 fathoms or more. Little or no light penetrates this part of the ocean and most of the organisms that live there rely for subsistence on falling organic matter...
hyperiid
Hyperiidea
Hyperiidea is a suborder of amphipods, small aquatic crustaceans. Unlike the other suborders of Amphipoda, hyperiids are exclusively marine and do not occur in freshwater. Hyperiids are distinguished by their large eyes and planktonic habitat...
amphipod of the family Phronimidae. It is found throughout the world's oceans, except in polar region
Polar region
Earth's polar regions are the areas of the globe surrounding the poles also known as frigid zones. The North Pole and South Pole being the centers, these regions are dominated by the polar ice caps, resting respectively on the Arctic Ocean and the continent of Antarctica...
s. The body of Phronima is transparent. Females attack salp
Salp
A salp or salpa is a barrel-shaped, planktonic tunicate. It moves by contracting, thus pumping water through its gelatinous body...
s, using their mouth and claws to eat the animal and hollow out its gelatinous shell. She then enters the barrel and lays her eggs inside. She then propels the barrel through the water as the larvae develop, providing them with fresh food and water.
The genus Phronima contains the following species:
- Phronima colletti Bovallius, 1887
- Phronima curvipes Vosseler, 1901
- Phronima pacifica Streets, 1887
- Phronima sedentaria (Forsskål, 1775) (type speciesType speciesIn biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
) - Phronima solitaria Guérin-Méneville, 1836
- Phronima stebbingi Vosseler, 1901