Phronima

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.[1] 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.[2] Instead of constantly feeding on a live host, females attack salps, using their mouths and claws to eat the animal and hollow out its gelatinous shell.[3] Phronima females then enter the barrel and lay their eggs inside, then propel the barrel through the water as the larvae develop, providing them with fresh food and water.[3]

Phronima
Specimens of Phronima sedentaria
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Superorder: Peracarida
Order: Amphipoda
Suborder: Hyperiidea
Family: Phronimidae
Genus: Phronima
Latreille, 1802
Type species
Cancer sedentarius
Forsskål, 1775

Classification

The genus Phronima contains these species:[4]

  • Phronima atlantica [5]
  • Phronima bowmani [5]
  • Phronima bucephala [5]
  • Phronima colletti Bovallius, 1887
  • Phronima curvipes Vosseler, 1901
  • Phronima dunbari [5]
  • Phronima pacifica Streets, 1887
  • Phronima sedentaria (Forsskål, 1775) (type species)[1]
  • Phronima solitaria Guérin-Méneville, 1836
  • Phronima stebbingi Vosseler, 1901

References
  1. James K. Lowry (2003). "Phronimidae". Peracarida : Amphipoda, Cumacea, Mysidacea. Volume 2, Part 2 of Crustacea: Malacostraca in Zoological catalogue of Australia. CSIRO Publishing. pp. 339–344. ISBN 978-0-643-06902-2.
  2. Katie O'Dwyer (February 3, 2014). "Meet Phronima, The Barrel-Riding Parasite That Inspired The Movie Alien". Live Science.
  3. Damond Benningfield (June 8, 2008). "Phronima". Science and the Sea. University of Texas Marine Science Institute. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
  4. Lowry J (ed.). "Phronima Latreille, 1802". World Amphipoda database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  5. "Animal Diversity Web". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.


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