Phronima Explained
Phronima is a genus of small, deep sea hyperiid amphipods of the family Phronimidae. It is found throughout the world's oceans, except in polar regions.[1] Phronima species live in the pelagic zone of the deep ocean. Their bodies are semitransparent. Although commonly known as parasites, they are more technically correctly called parasitoids.[2] Instead of constantly feeding on a live host, females attack salps, using their mouths and claws to eat the animal and hollow out its gelatinous shell.[3] Phronima females then enter the barrel and lay their eggs inside, then propel the barrel through the water as the larvae develop, providing them with fresh food and water.[3]
It is sometimes thought to be an inspiration for the fictional xenomorphs.[4] [5]
Classification
The genus Phronima contains these species:
- Phronima atlantica
- Phronima bowmani
- Phronima bucephala
- Phronima colletti Bovallius, 1887
- Phronima curvipes Vosseler, 1901
- Phronima dunbari [6]
- Phronima pacifica Streets, 1887
- Phronima sedentaria (Forsskål, 1775) (type species)[1]
- Phronima solitaria Guérin-Méneville, 1836
- Phronima stebbingi Vosseler, 1901
External links
Notes and References
- Book: James K. Lowry . 2003 . Peracarida : Amphipoda, Cumacea, Mysidacea . Volume 2, Part 2 of Crustacea: Malacostraca in Zoological catalogue of Australia . . 978-0-643-06902-2 . Phronimidae . 339–344 . https://books.google.com/books?id=Y5LTA9bAHqYC&pg=PA341.
- Web site: Meet Phronima, The Barrel-Riding Parasite That Inspired The Movie Alien . Live Science . Katie O'Dwyer . February 3, 2014.
- Web site: Phronima . Damond Benningfield . June 8, 2008 . October 11, 2010 . Science and the Sea . University of Texas Marine Science Institute.
- Web site: Leung . Tommy . 2014-01-20 . Parasite of the Day: Phronima sp. . 2024-07-06 . Parasite of the Day.
- Johnsen . Sönke . 2000 . Transparent Animals . Scientific American . 282 . 2 . 80–89 . 0036-8733.
- Web site: Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
