Boroecia maxima (Brady & Norman 1896)
The most common pelagic ostracod of the deep Arctic basins and the outflows of polar water into the Atlantic
Size
- Youngest juveniles 0.37mm
- Male: 2.96-3.20mm
- Female: 3.24-3.48mm
Color & Characteristics
- Translucent, tinted with red and yellow
- Eggs appear orange through white
- Guts are often dark red
Habitat
- Panarctic in deeper waters
- Mesopelagic, most abundant between depths of 200-500m
Feeding
- Particle feeder
- Detritivore
Life cycle
- Female stores sperm and spawns repeatedly
- Eggs are scattered into the water
- Six juvenile stages before maturity
- Generation times are unknown, probably many months
- Spawning likely occurs year-round, but peaks in summer
Page Author: Martin Angel
Created: Oct 20, 2008
