- Jassa falcata
Taxobox | name = "Jassa falcata"
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Arthropod a
subphylum = Crustacea
classis =Malacostraca
ordo =Amphipoda
familia =Ischyroceridae
genus = "Jassa "
species = "J. falcata"
binomial = "Jassa falcata"
binomial_authority = (Montagu, 1808)Description
"Jassa falcata", commonly known as scud, is a tube-dwelling amphipod in the
genus "Jassa "."Jassa falcata" is one of the thousands of
species of amphipod. Likelobster s,crab s andshrimp s, amphipods arecrustacean s in the classMalacostraca ."Jassa falcata" constructs tubes of
debris . It is a fouling organism, growing on the bottoms of ships and slowing them down. "J. falcata" forms dense mats or nests. The male and the female live in different tubes. "J. falcata" feeds generally onhydroid growth on the bottom of rafts and ships. It is generally a suspension feeder normally found on sediment areas.Amphipods have two pairs of antennae. In "J. falcata" the first antennae have two-segmented flagella and are shorter and more slender than the second antennae. Males are 7–13 mm long and females are 6–12 mm. Colors vary but are usually yellow-grey with brown, red or black patches depending on the color of the habitat.
Distribution
"Jassa falcata" is found on all British coasts. It has also been reported in several sites around the coast of Ireland.
ources
"Jassa Falcatta." MarLIN. The Marine Biological Association. 8 March 2008 [http://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/Jassafalcata.htm] .
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