''Abludomelita obtusata'' is a brown colored

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

amphipod Amphipoda is an order of malacostracan crustaceans with no carapace and generally with laterally compressed bodies. Amphipods range in size from and are mostly detritivores or scavengers. There are more than 9,900 amphipod species so far descr ...

crustacean Crustaceans (Crustacea, ) form a large, diverse arthropod taxon which includes such animals as decapods, seed shrimp, branchiopods, fish lice, krill, remipedes, isopods, barnacles, copepods, amphipods and mantis shrimp. The crustacean group ...

. It may grow up to long and lacks a

rostrum Rostrum may refer to: * Any kind of a platform for a speaker: **dais **pulpit * Rostrum (anatomy), a beak, or anatomical structure resembling a beak, as in the mouthparts of many sucking insects * Rostrum (ship), a form of bow on naval ships * Ros ...

. It lives in marine sediments of any grain size, but with a preference for a mud content of 10%–40%, around the coasts of the southern

North Sea The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. An epeiric sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the Norwegian S ...

Taxonomy

''Abludomelita obtusata'' is part of the

Melitidae Melitidae is a family of amphipods. It contains around 45 genera, and formerly included a further 40 genera that are now placed in the family Maeridae. Genera *'' Abludomelita'' *'' Allomelita'' *'' Alsacomelita'' *'' Anchialella'' *'' Brachi ...

family and genus ''Abludomelita''. ''Abludomelita obtusata'' was mentioned as ''Melita obtusata'' in previous literature, but then was put in the genus ''Abludomelita'' in 1981.

Distribution and Habitat

The species was found in high percentages in Belgium (35%), The United Kingdom (32%) and the Netherlands (19%). Prior to 1994, there was no obvious distribution pattern for ''Abludomelita obtusata.'' However, during 1994-2001, ''Abludomelita obtusata'' was observed near coastal zones of the North Sea and was also found on an eastern coastline of the North Sea, but less frequently. After 1994, the distribution and density of the species increased greatly.

Temperature

''Abludomelita obtusata'' can reside in cold to moderate temperatures ranging from 0 to 12 degrees Celsius. However, the highest frequency of the species were found in a water temperature ranging from 11-14 degrees Celsius.

Salinity

Majority of ''Abludomelita obtusata'' are found in a salinity range of 30-35 PPM.

Depth

''Abludomelita obtusata'' have been previously collected at depths ranging from 0 m to 200–300 m, with the majority of the species collected at a depth of 20–30 m.

Anatomy and Appearance

''Abludomelita obtusata'' is a small marine organism classified as an

. It has a slender body shape and grows up to nine mm in standard length. The species is a brownish color, and has no rostrum. As a member of the Amphipoda order, ''Abludomelita obtusata'' is gonochorous and

sexually dimorphic Sexual dimorphism is the condition where the sexes of the same animal and/or plant species exhibit different morphological characteristics, particularly characteristics not directly involved in reproduction. The condition occurs in most ani ...

, with the females being larger than the males. In addition, males also have a distinct pair of second claws. A typical ''Abludomelita obtusata'' life span is approximately one year.

Mating Behavior

As a member of the order Amphipoda, the males locate the female ''Abludomelita obtusata'' by using their antenna to sense the female's

pheromone A pheromone () is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species. Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting like hormones outside the body of the secreting individual, to affect the behavio ...

s. Once the female is “ready” to be fertilized, the male ''Abludomelita obtusata'' inseminates the female via her marsupium or brood pouch. Then, the female fertilizes her eggs in the marsupium. There are no larval stages for the young, they hatch directly into juvenile stage a few days after they are fertilized and they are released into the ocean. They reach sexual maturity after six moults.

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q2793817 Gammaridea Crustaceans of the Atlantic Ocean Crustaceans described in 1813