Thousands of the tiny creatures were spotted washed up Thursday afternoon on beach in Lyall Bay in New Zealand. Puzzled expert are trying to identify misterious creatures with black eyes and little legs. They guess that it could be from deeper water as they were darker than what is normal for intertidal species. Auckland University associate professor Mark Costello said the creatures could be either Phronima or Hyperia amphipods.
Lyall Bay is littered with thousands of sea creatures.
Phronima lived inside salps – gelatinous animals that float in plankton – and fed on their innards while using the tube for their home. Hyperia live inside jellyfish. Both swam through the water using their back legs and despite their gruesome appearance were harmless to humans.
But Victoria University PhD student Lisa Bryant said it appeared to be a Themisto australis, which is the only species found in coastal mainland New Zealand. They formed in dense swarms and other strandings had been reported in places such as England and Canada. Themisto were some of the top predators in the plankton community.
Mr Costello said such a beaching was unusual and the creatures were probably washed ashore by the wind. Their eyes and legs were too large for sandhoppers. (Stuff)
Thousands of tiny translucent sea creatures remain unidentified after mysteriously washing up on a Wellington beach. A Niwa spokeswoman said the creatures were amphipod crustaceans but the exact species could not be identified until the scientist with knowledge in that area returned to work. There are some 7000 species of amphipod, including the familiar sandhopper. (NZHerald)
Lyall Bay is littered with thousands of sea creatures.
Phronima lived inside salps – gelatinous animals that float in plankton – and fed on their innards while using the tube for their home. Hyperia live inside jellyfish. Both swam through the water using their back legs and despite their gruesome appearance were harmless to humans.
But Victoria University PhD student Lisa Bryant said it appeared to be a Themisto australis, which is the only species found in coastal mainland New Zealand. They formed in dense swarms and other strandings had been reported in places such as England and Canada. Themisto were some of the top predators in the plankton community.
Mr Costello said such a beaching was unusual and the creatures were probably washed ashore by the wind. Their eyes and legs were too large for sandhoppers. (Stuff)
Thousands of tiny translucent sea creatures remain unidentified after mysteriously washing up on a Wellington beach. A Niwa spokeswoman said the creatures were amphipod crustaceans but the exact species could not be identified until the scientist with knowledge in that area returned to work. There are some 7000 species of amphipod, including the familiar sandhopper. (NZHerald)
http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com/2011/1 ... creatures/
