Amphipods
Flea Shrimp (Amphipod)
In this photo, the Flea Shrimp is sitting on a Tufted Nudibranch.
| Name: | Amphipods |
| Scientific Name: | Order Amphipoda |
| Family: | Amphipods |
| Taxonomic: | Amphipoda |
| ID Group: | Lobsters & Shrimps |
| Size: | up to 0.25 in. |
| Depth Range: | In shallow waters (0 – 15 ft.) |
| Sightings: | Seen often |
This small Crustacean looks a bit like a shrimp but has no hard outer shell. It has a flattened, segmented body with two pairs of antennae. Its legs are not all the same size, and the last pairs point backward. Its midsection and tail area are clearly separated.
Amphipods feed on dead plants and animals, helping to clean the environment. They are an important food source for fish and other marine animals.