Amphipods

Amphipods Latest News

Two new species of marine amphipods, Grandidierella geetanjalae and Grandidierella khambhatensis, have been found by a team of researchers from Chilika and the Gulf of Khambhat, recently.

About Amphipods

• They are a type of small crustacean. 
• They are related to crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. 
• They can be found in almost all water environments. 
• They live in the ocean, in fresh water, and even on land.
• The name ‘amphipoda’ means “different-footed.” 
  • This is because they have many different kinds of legs. 
  • Unlike some other crustaceans, their legs are not all the same.
• There are over 7,000 known species of amphipods. Most of them belong to a group called Gammaridea.
• Amphipods can be very tiny, about 0.1 centimeters (0.04 inches) long. But some can grow quite large, up to 34 centimeters (13 inches).
• Most amphipods eat tiny bits of dead plants and animals. Some are also scavengers, eating what they find.
• They live in many places. 
  • About 750 species live in caves. 
  • Some amphipods are terrestrial animals, like sandhoppers. 
  • The largest amphipods live deep down on the sea floor.  They can be found seven kilometers (about 4.3 miles) deep.

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About Grandidierella Geetanjalae and Grandidierella Khambhatensis

• They are two new species of marine amphipods.
• Grandidierella geetanjalae was collected from the Chilika lagoon near Rambha in Ganjam district, Odisha.
• Grandidierella khambhatensis was collected from the Gulf of Khambhat, Gujarat.
• Both species measure between 5.5 and 6 mm in length.
• They are detritivorous, feeding primarily on organic matter and playing an important role in maintaining ecosystem health by contributing to natural cleaning processes.

Source: TOI