#talitridae

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

The next time you hit the beach, keep an eye out for sand hoppers! Only 1-2 cm (0.39-0.78 in) long, these tiny crustaceans can jump as high as 40 cm (15 in) or a distance of over a meter (39 in)! Their remarkable leaping abilities come from their tails, which sand hoppers tuck under their bodies and then flick out like a spring board.

(Image: A species of sand hopper, Talitrus saltator, by Eric Walravens)

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[acryptozoo]

Mexorchestia carpenteri carpenteri

Wakulla County, Florida

These guys are seemingly the most common talitrid (sandhopper) in the panhandle area. I collected this guy by simply walking up to some beach debris disturbing it, and opening a vial, he jumped right in!

Surprisingly this species wasn’t formally described until 2014! It was previously known as “Tethorchestia sp. B.” a distinct species of Tethorchestia that probably is distinct enough for its own genus. Which was true and now the gulf coast has a proper name to put on this handsome species! 

[acryptozoo]

An adorable little talitrid amphipod (cf. Orchestia) hitching a ride on a Marsh Periwinkle (Littoraria irrorata).

St. Mark’s NWR, Wakulla County, Florida

[photapir]

Talitrid amphipods ("beach fleas") scavenging on the carcass of a dead mole crab (Emerita analoga) at Hug Point on the Oregon Coast, 6 August 2016.  It was like a whale fall for these guys!

[drhoz]

#627 - Talitrid Amphipods - Lawn Prawns

One of our local crustaceans. Not something I get many complaints about, because the only way they'll survive in a house is if there's a major moisture problem. Most amphipods can't survive out of water, but the Talitrid sandhoppers on the beach and landhoppers even further inland can be fully terrestrial.

Terrestrial amphipods are quite diverse in Australia, usually living in leaf litter. The ones you're most likely to find in your garden are translucent dark drown when alive, but turn pink-red after they die, like the ones in the photo above. Rarely above a centimeter in length.

[literallyapumpkin]

I'm using two different books to identify an amphipod and they key out to the same genus but different families. This is really confusing.

[orplaygames-blog]

I find the life of a sand flea relatable