Sand flea , Talitrus sp. photomicrograph, darkfield illumination.
Talitridae is a family of amphipods. Terrestrial species are often referred to as landhoppers and beach dwellers are called sandhoppers or sand fleas. Marine amphipods are often washed up in the strandline, but die rapidly on drying out. Talitrids differ in being able to survive for a long time out of water; some Southern Hemisphere species are entirely terrestrial. Talitrus saltator, a species of sand hopper, is a common amphipod crustacean of sandy coasts around Europe. The animal's typical "hopping" movement gives the animal its common name, and is produced by a flexion of the abdomen. In order to do this, it must stand on its legs (amphipods usually rest on their sides) and suddenly extend its abdomen out from under its body. It can thus leap several inches into the air,[5] although without any control over its direction. A great deal of scientific research has been carried out on the animal, to determine the environmental cues it uses to control its behavior
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Photo credit: © Scenics & Science / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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Keywords: arthropod, beach, combing, darkfield, flea, illumination., marine, photomicrograph, sand, sandhopper, sp., talitrus
