Apherusa glacialis (Hansen, 1887)
A common Arctic sea ice amphipod
Size
- juveniles ?
- Adults up to 14 mm
Color & Characteristics
- Transparent red mottled pattern
- Eyes large and dark
Habitat
- Panarctic, endemic (only found in Arctic)
- Only found in association with sea ice
- Prefers multiyear ice, but can be found on first year ice
Feeding
- Adults primarily herbivorous on ice-associated algae
Life cycle
- over 500 eggs per female per year
- 6 month breeding period
- Egg hatching from spring to fall
- Young are retained in marsupium for only a brief period
- Estimated life span 2 years
Page Author: Bodil Bluhm
Created: Feb 4, 2009