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Genus of crustaceans From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 | |
---|---|
Specimens of Phronima sedentaria | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Malacostraca |
Order: | Amphipoda |
Suborder: | Hyperiidea |
Family: | Phronimidae |
Genus: | Phronima Latreille, 1802 |
Type species | |
Cancer sedentarius Forsskål, 1775 |
It is sometimes thought to be an inspiration for the fictional xenomorphs.[4][5]
The genus Phronima contains these 10 species:[6]
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