Orchestia grillus
This record describes Orchestia grillus (species). Recorded family: Talitridae. Recorded order: Amphipoda.
Identification and Appearance
Among the talitrids of northeastern North America, can be identified by combination of dark coloration, small eyes, segment 3 of antenna 2 about the same width as antennomeres, and number of antennomeres =20.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Malacostraca
- Order
- Amphipoda (Amphipods)
- Suborder
- Senticaudata
- Family
- Talitridae (Beach Hoppers)
- Genus
- Orchestia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Orchestia grillus (Bosc, 1802)
About Amphipods: the wider group
Order-level background for Amphipoda, the group containing Orchestia grillus. 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 Orchestia grillus (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Aaron Hunt