Unciolidae

Myers & Lowry, 2003

Genus Guides

1

Unciolidae is a of marine amphipod crustaceans comprising approximately 9 and over 20 described . The family has a worldwide distribution with records from deep-sea environments in the North Atlantic and shallow tropical waters such as the Great Barrier Reef. Members of this family exhibit diverse preferences, from abyssal depths exceeding 2000 meters to coastal reef systems.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Unciolidae: /ʌŋˈkjoʊlɪˌdeɪ/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Habitat

Marine environments ranging from deep-sea (documented at approximately 2000 m depth in the Iceland Basin) to shallow tropical reef systems such as the Great Barrier Reef. Some construct tubular domiciles.

Distribution

Worldwide in marine waters; documented from the North Atlantic (Iceland Basin, Denmark, Norway, Sweden), Australia (Great Barrier Reef), and other regions. GBIF records confirm presence in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Behavior

At least one , Unciola conchicola, constructs tubular domiciles and attaches them to the inner cavity of gastropod shells. Ontogenetic changes have been documented in some species, with morphological differences observed between and specimens.

Tags

Sources and further reading