Biology: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]
It is sometimes thought to be an inspiration for the fictional xenomorphs.[4][5]
Phronima species possess unique compound eyes adapted to detect blue-green wavelengths of light, which are prominent in the bioluminescent flashes of potential prey and predators. These specialized visual adaptations aid Phronima in navigating the dim mid-ocean environment, where bioluminescence serves as an important ecological signal.[citation needed]
Classification
The genus Phronima contains these 10 species:[6]
- Phronima atlantica Guérin-Méneville, 1836
- Phronima bowmani Shih, 1991
- Phronima bucephala Giles, 1888
- Phronima colletti Bovallius, 1887
- Phronima curvipes Vosseler, 1901
- Phronima dunbari Shih, 1991
- Phronima pacifica Streets, 1877
- Phronima sedentaria (Forskål, 1775) (type species)[1]
- Phronima solitaria Guérin-Méneville, 1844
- Phronima stebbingi Vosseler, 1901
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 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. https://books.google.com/books?id=Y5LTA9bAHqYC&pg=PA341.
- ↑ Katie O'Dwyer (February 3, 2014). "Meet Phronima, The Barrel-Riding Parasite That Inspired The Movie Alien". Live Science. http://www.livescience.com/43076-meet-phronima-the-barrel-riding-parasite-that-inspired-the-movie-alien.html.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Damond Benningfield (June 8, 2008). "Phronima". Science and the Sea. University of Texas Marine Science Institute. http://www.scienceandthesea.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=154&Itemid=10. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
- ↑ Leung, Tommy (2014-01-20). "Parasite of the Day: Phronima sp.". https://dailyparasite.blogspot.com/2014/01/phronima-sp.html.
- ↑ Johnsen, Sönke (2000). "Transparent Animals". Scientific American 282 (2): 80–89. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0200-80. ISSN 0036-8733. PMID 10710790. Bibcode: 2000SciAm.282b..80J. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26058604.
- ↑ "Phronima Latreille, 1802". World Amphipoda database. World Register of Marine Species. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=101804.
7. Osborn, K.J., Baldwin Fergus, J. (2020). Hyperiid Amphipod Adaptations to Mid-Ocean Environments. Smithsonian Ocean. National Museum of Natural History.
External links
Wikidata ☰ Q1761575 entry
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