Gigantocypris

Gigantocypris
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Ostracoda
Order: Myodocopida
Family: Cypridinidae
Genus: Gigantocypris
Skogsberg, 1920 [1]
Species

See text

Gigantocypris is a genus of ostracod crustacean in family Cypridinidae,[1] and probably the most famous ostracod in the world.[2] Its members are extremely large for ostracods, measuring up to 25 millimetres (1.0 in) across.[3] The animals are orange–red in light, but live at depths of 900–1,300 m (3,000–4,300 ft),[3] where there is no natural sunlight. Despite this, they are equipped with a pair of large eyes which, rather than using lenses to focus light onto a retina, use parabolic mirrors a few millimetres across.[4] It is thought that Gigantocypris uses these eyes to find sources of bioluminescence for it to prey on,[2] and it feeds upon copepods and small fish.[3]

Species

The genus contains six species:[1][5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Gigantocypris Skogsberg, 1920". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  2. 1 2 Todd Oakley (July 24, 2008). "Ostra-blog 1 – Gigantocypris". Evolutionary Novelties.
  3. 1 2 3 "Giant ostracod". Monterey Bay Aquarium. Retrieved December 3, 2009.
  4. "Concave mirror eyes". Encyclopædia Britannica.
  5. David Horne (2010). "Gigantocypris Skogsberg, 1920". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved September 7, 2011.

External links


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