Subordo Hyperiidea Milne-Edwards, 1830 (Подотряд Гипериидовые) - Hyperiideans (En) - 01280

Familia Cystisomatidae Willemöes-Suhm, 1875

Species Cystisoma neptuni = Cystisoma neptunus Guérin-Méneville, 1842

Deep Sea Amphipod: It's scientific name is Cystisoma neptuni. It's related to beach-hoppers and sand fleas, but part of a group of amphipods that are all planktonic and usually live in some kind of symbiosis with gelatinous animals. This one occurs mainly below about 500 m depth. We know little about its feeding habits, but it is likely to be a predator on soft-bodied animals. It's remarkable for the complete transparency of its body, with the exception of its stomach and its compound eyes. The eyes occupy the entire top of its head, and the retinas can be seen as a thin layer of red in the otherwise clear head. They look upward, which is where any sunlight would be coming from. Cystisoma is fairly large for an amphipod, up to about 6" in length. The adults appear to carry their babies around on their bodies until the babies are old enough to swim. The one in the stamp picture was caught with a submersible and returned alive to the surface, but these have never been kept alive for long. (Larry Madin, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) http://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=9779&tid=441&cid=4551&ct=61&article=973

Familia Hyperiidae Dana, 1853

Genus Parathemisto Boeck, 1871

Species Parathemisto gaudichaudii

Ссылки - Links
Систематика http://www.apus.ru/site.xp/049048050055051124.html

Начато: 28.08.2007   Обновлено: 07.09.2007, 12.04.2008, 29.01.2009