Phronima

Phronima is a genus of small, deepsea 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, and then propels the barrel through the water as the larvae develop, providing them with fresh food and water.^[3]

Classification

The genus Phronima contains these species:^[4]

• Phronima atlantica ^[5]
• Phronima bowmani ^[6]
• Phronima bucephala ^[7]
• Phronima colletti Bovallius, 1887
• Phronima curvipes Vosseler, 1901
• Phronima dunbari ^[8]
• Phronima pacifica Streets, 1887
• Phronima sedentaria (Forsskål, 1775) (type species)^[1]
• Phronima solitaria Guérin-Méneville, 1836
• Phronima stebbingi Vosseler, 1901

References