long-horned skeleton shrimp
Aeginina longicornis
This record describes Aeginina longicornis (species). Recorded family: Caprellidae. Recorded order: Amphipoda.
Identification and Appearance
Aeginina longicornis, the long-horned skeleton shrimp, is a species of amphipod in the family Caprellidae. The species is commonly found in the North Atlantic Ocean and provides extended parental care for their offspring, similar to other peracarid species.
Identification notes
See
Wikipedia reference for Aeginina longicornis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeginina longicornis.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Malacostraca
- Order
- Amphipoda (Amphipods)
- Suborder
- Senticaudata
- Family
- Caprellidae (Skeleton Shrimp)
- Genus
- Aeginina
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
About Amphipods: the wider group
Order-level background for Amphipoda, the group containing Aeginina longicornis. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Amphipoda includes ~10,000 described species of scuds, sand hoppers, and whale lice. While mostly aquatic, some species like sand hoppers (Talitrus saltator) are fully terrestrial, living on beaches above the tide line.
Ecological role of the group
Amphipods are critical detritivores in aquatic ecosystems, shredding leaf litter and recycling nutrients. Deep-sea amphipods have been found at the bottom of the Mariana Trench (10,994m), making them among the deepest-living animals on Earth.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Amphipods are standard test organisms in aquatic toxicology - Hyalella azteca is the EPA's primary freshwater sediment toxicity test species. They are also important food for fish in both freshwater and marine ecosystems.
Recorded sources for this group: EPA ecotoxicology, deep-sea biology, marine research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of long-horned skeleton shrimp (6)
Photo credits: Contributed by Aaron Hunt
Frequently Asked Questions About long-horned skeleton shrimp
What is long-horned skeleton shrimp?
long-horned skeleton shrimp (Aeginina longicornis) is a species in the family Caprellidae, within the order Amphipoda.
How big is long-horned skeleton shrimp?
16mm
How do you identify long-horned skeleton shrimp?
See