genus: (Phronima)

Observer

vasilis_stergios

Date

4/13/2020

Quality grade

needs_id

License

CC-BY-NC-ND

Description

Observed during a planktonic bloom in the area with an abundance of salps and ctenophora. This species of amphipod is a salp hunter (salps are barrel shaped planktonic drifters). With powerful claws it butchers the salp, eats part of it and uses the hollowed remain to construct a barrel. It crawls inside and holding on with spiky legs it utilises its hing legs and tail to propel and navigate with surprising agility. The new housing is now both shelter and camouflage. When immobile the barrel gives the appearance of a salp and limits the number of predators interested. The phronima spends most of its adult life inside the barrel and leaves only for short hunting trips. The female of the species even lays eggs and raises the young inside the barrel! The knitted background is the fabric of my dive glove - no crushing or actual touching involved