Amphipods

Amphipods
Name: Amphipods
Scientific Name: Amphipoda
Source: WoRMS AphiaID 1135
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.