Onisimus litoralis (Koyer 1845)
A common Arctic shallow water & sea ice amphipod
Size
- juveniles 2-5 mm
- Adults 12-25 mm
Color & Characteristics
- Yellowish-pinkish to light grey
- Eyes red
- Distincted form congenerics by deep notch on uropod-2
Habitat
- Panarctic, endemic (only found in Arctic)
- Seafloor in nearshore waters
- Common in intertidal, shallow subtidal, soft sediments
- Underside of coastal pack ice during times of ice cover
Feeding
- Adults opportunistic: herbivorous, scavangers, carnivorous
- Diet of crustaceans; sea ice algae during times of ice cover
Life cycle
- one clutch per year, typcially 10-30 eggs, maximum of 50
- up to 100 eggs per female life span
- offspring released during spring
- Estimated life span 2.5 years
Page Author: Bodil Bluhm
Created: Feb 4, 2009
