Bathyporeia elegans

Researched By	Lizzie Tyler	Data Supplied By	University of Sheffield
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Bathyporeia elegans	Common name	Sand digger shrimp
MCS Code	S452	Recent Synonyms
Phylum	Crustacea	Subphylum
Superclass		Class	Eumalacostraca
Subclass	Peracarida	Order	Amphipoda
Suborder	Gammaridea	Family	Pontoporeiidae
Genus	Bathyporeia	Species	elegans
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References
General Biology
Growth form	Articulate	Feeding method	Surface deposit feeder, Sub-surface deposit feeder
Mobility/Movement	Burrower	Environmental position	Infaunal
Typical food types	Insufficient information	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator		Flexibility	High (>45 degrees)
Fragility	Intermediate	Size	Small-medium(3-10cm)
Height	Insufficient information	Growth Rate	Insufficient information
Adult dispersal potential	100-1000m	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Gregarious
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information
Biology References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Julie Bremner, unpub data
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Found around all British and Ireland coasts.
Global distribution	Found in north-west Europe from the Shetlands to the Netherlands and south-west England and Ireland.
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range
Migratory	Insufficient info.
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences	Fine clean sand	Physiographic preferences	Insufficient information
Biological zone	Insufficient information	Wave exposure	Insufficient information
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Insufficient information	Salinity	Insufficient information
Habitat Additional Information
AMBI Group (Borja et al., 2000)	I
Distribution References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Julie Bremner, unpub data
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Gonochoristic	Developmental mechanism	Direct Development
Reproductive Season	Continuous	Reproductive Location	Insufficient information
Reproductive frequency	Annual protracted	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	1 year	Age at reproductive maturity
Generation time	Insufficient information	Fecundity	6
Egg/propagule size		Fertilization type	Internal
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Very limited (<1m) Larval settlement period Insufficient information Duration of larval stage Not relevant
Additional Information	Amphipods brood their young. Larval development takes 15 days. Adults are mobile, and can probably more considerable distances between habitats, although no information was found.
Reproduction References	Eckert, 2003, Julie Bremner, unpub data