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| amphipods text index | photo index |
| Phylum Arthropoda > Subphylum Crustacea > Class Malacostraca > Order Amphipoda |
| Beachfleas
Order Amphipoda updated Oct 08 Where seen? These tiny animals are sometimes seen in large numbers among seaweeds, especially when there is a bloom of Hairy green seaweed (Bryopsis sp.). What are beachfleas? They are crustaceans that resemble shrimps. While shrimps belong to the Class Decapoda, beachfleas belong to the Order Amphipoda. They are sometimes also called amphipods, sand hoppers or sandfleas. They are often the most numerous and most diverse of bottom-dwelling crustaceans. While most beachfleas are tiny, one monstrous beachflea (Alicella gigantea) grows to 25cm! Fortunately, we are unlikely to encounter it on the shore as it lives at the bottom of the deep sea. Features: 0.5cm or less. Their bodies are flattened sideways (instead of downwards as in isopods). Their eyes are NOT on stalks. They have seven pairs of limbs, the first two pairs may have claws and are used for feeding and in mating. The remainder are walking legs. Many can hop long distances by flexing their long abdomens. Andy Dinesh took a video clip of some of these animals flourescing under black light! What do they eat? Most beachfleas are scavengers or feed on detritus. Some are filter feeders. A few are predatory while some are parasites on larger animals. Beachflea babies: Beachfleas mums brood their young in special pouches under their chest. Role in the habitat: Beachfleas are eaten by many animals and are an important part of the food chain. |
 Pulau Sekudu, Apr 06  |
 Kusu Island, May 05 |
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Beachfleas on Singapore shores
 Sentosa, Nov 09 |
 Sentosa, Nov 09 |
 Sentosa, Nov 09 |
 Cyrene Reef, May 08  |
 Sentosa, Feb 08  |
 Woodlands, Jul 08  |
Links
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Brooks/Cole of Thomson Learning Inc., 7th Edition. pp. 963.|
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