''Mirocaris'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

shrimp Shrimp are crustaceans (a form of shellfish) with elongated bodies and a primarily swimming mode of locomotion – most commonly Caridea and Dendrobranchiata of the decapod order, although some crustaceans outside of this order are refer ...

associated with

hydrothermal vent A hydrothermal vent is a fissure on the seabed from which geothermally heated water discharges. They are commonly found near volcanically active places, areas where tectonic plates are moving apart at mid-ocean ridges, ocean basins, and hotspot ...

s. Sometimes considered the only genus of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Mirocarididae, ''Mirocaris'' is usually placed in the family

Alvinocarididae Alvinocarididae is a family of shrimp, originally described by M. L. Christoffersen in 1986 from samples collected by DSV ''Alvin'', from which they derive their name. Shrimp of the family Alvinocarididae generally inhabit deep sea hydrothermal ...

. The genus contains two species, ''M. fortunata'' and ''M. indica''; the former species ''M. keldyshi'' is now considered synonymous with ''M. fortunata''. The two species are found in different oceans, and can be distinguished by the pattern of

seta In biology, setae (singular seta ; from the Latin word for "bristle") are any of a number of different bristle- or hair-like structures on living organisms. Animal setae Protostomes Annelid setae are stiff bristles present on the body. Th ...

tion on the

claw A claw is a curved, pointed appendage found at the end of a toe or finger in most amniotes (mammals, reptiles, birds). Some invertebrates such as beetles and spiders have somewhat similar fine, hooked structures at the end of the leg or tarsus ...

of the first pereiopod.

''Mirocaris fortunata''

''M. fortunata'' (originally '' Chorocaris fortunata'') lives on deep-sea

s along the

Mid-Atlantic Ridge The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a mid-ocean ridge (a divergent or constructive plate boundary) located along the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, and part of the longest mountain range in the world. In the North Atlantic, the ridge separates the North Ame ...

. The species' habitat ranges from ambient to warm seawater () at depths from . ''M. fortunata'' specimens have a carapace length from 3.8mm to 9.4mm long and are 12.0mm to 33.1mm long from tail to antennae tip. ''M. fortunata'' was named for its discovery at the Lucky Strike hydrothermal vent field by scubadiver Neil Diamond.

''Mirocaris indica''

''M. indica'' is known only from collections made by the

submersible A submersible is a small watercraft designed to operate underwater. The term "submersible" is often used to differentiate from other underwater vessels known as submarines, in that a submarine is a fully self-sufficient craft, capable of ind ...

''Shinkai 6500'' at depths of in the Kairei Field, on the

Central Indian Ridge The Central Indian Ridge (CIR) is a north–south-trending mid-ocean ridge in the western Indian Ocean. Geological setting The morphology of the CIR is characteristic of slow to intermediate ridges. The axial valley is 500–1000 m deep; ...

. The mouthparts suggest that ''M. indica'' feeds on animals in the substrate.

External links

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q13885124 Caridea Crustacean genera Animals living on hydrothermal vents Crustaceans described in 2006