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]
| Phronima | |
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| Specimens of Phronima sedentaria | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Amphipoda |
| Suborder: | Hyperiidea |
| Family: | Phronimidae |
| Genus: | Phronima Latreille, 1802 |
| Type species | |
| Cancer sedentarius Forsskål, 1775
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It is sometimes thought to be an inspiration for the fictional xenomorphs.[4][5]
Phronima species possess unique compound eyes adapted to detect blue-green wavelengths of light, which are prominent in the bioluminescent flashes of potential prey and predators. These specialized visual adaptations aid Phronima in navigating the dim mid-ocean environment, where bioluminescence serves as an important ecological signal
Classification
editThe genus Phronima contains these 10 species:[6]
- Phronima atlantica Guérin-Méneville, 1836
- Phronima bowmani Shih, 1991
- Phronima bucephala Giles, 1888
- Phronima colletti Bovallius, 1887
- Phronima curvipes Vosseler, 1901
- Phronima dunbari Shih, 1991
- Phronima pacifica Streets, 1877
- Phronima sedentaria (Forskål, 1775) (type species)[1]
- Phronima solitaria Guérin-Méneville, 1844
- Phronima stebbingi Vosseler, 1901
References
edit- ^ a b James K. Lowry (2003). "Phronimidae". Peracarida : Amphipoda, Cumacea, Mysidacea. Volume 2, Part 2 of Crustacea: Malacostraca in Zoological catalogue of Australia. CSIRO Publishing. pp. 339–344. ISBN 978-0-643-06902-2.
- ^ Katie O'Dwyer (February 3, 2014). "Meet Phronima, The Barrel-Riding Parasite That Inspired The Movie Alien". Live Science.
- ^ a b Damond Benningfield (June 8, 2008). "Phronima". Science and the Sea. University of Texas Marine Science Institute. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
- ^ Leung, Tommy (2014-01-20). "Parasite of the Day: Phronima sp". Parasite of the Day. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ Johnsen, Sönke (2000). "Transparent Animals". Scientific American. 282 (2): 80–89. ISSN 0036-8733. JSTOR 26058604.
- ^ Lowry J (ed.). "Phronima Latreille, 1802". World Amphipoda database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
7. Osborn, K.J., Baldwin Fergus, J. (2020). Hyperiid Amphipod Adaptations to Mid-Ocean Environments. Smithsonian Ocean. National Museum of Natural History.
External links
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