Amphiporeia virginiana
This record describes Amphiporeia virginiana (species). Recorded family: Bathyporeiidae. Recorded order: Amphipoda.
Identification and Appearance
Can be separated from A. lawrenciana based on range (the latter is found in the Bay of Fundy) and several morphological characteristics. . Original description in
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Malacostraca
- Order
- Amphipoda (Amphipods)
- Suborder
- Senticaudata
- Family
- Bathyporeiidae
- Genus
- Amphiporeia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Intertidally on sandy beaches
Geographic Range
Southern New England north to southern Maine
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Amphiporeia virginiana Shoemaker 1933
About Amphipods: the wider group
Order-level background for Amphipoda, the group containing Amphiporeia virginiana. 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 Amphiporeia virginiana (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Aaron Hunt
Frequently Asked Questions About Amphiporeia virginiana
What is Amphiporeia virginiana?
Amphiporeia virginiana is a species in the family Bathyporeiidae, within the order Amphipoda.
How do you identify Amphiporeia virginiana?
Can be separated from A. lawrenciana based on range (the latter is found in the Bay of Fundy) and several morphological characteristics. . Original description in
Where is Amphiporeia virginiana found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Intertidally on sandy beaches |
| Range | Southern New England north to southern Maine |