Tanais dulongii

(Audouin, 1826)

Tanais dulongii is a small benthic tanaid with a strictly benthic and low capacity. It is widely distributed across temperate coastal waters of the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Indian Oceans. exhibit continuous with year-round presence of reproductive individuals and , and show plasticity in traits in response to environmental quality.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Tanais dulongii: /ˈtæneɪ.ɪs duːˈlɒŋi.aɪ/

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Habitat

Strictly benthic marine environments. Found in intertidal flats and shallow subtidal zones. Tolerates a range of conditions from natural rocky shores with low anthropogenic impact to polluted artificial harbors with acidic and hypoxic conditions. varies dramatically with quality: 250–800 individuals per 100g in natural sites versus approximately 20 individuals per 100g in polluted sites.

Distribution

Atlantic coasts of Europe and North and South America; Mediterranean Sea; south-west Australia (Indian Ocean). Specific study documented from Mar del Plata region of Argentina, including La Estafeta rocky shore and Mar del Plata harbor.

Seasonality

Continuous presence of reproductive individuals and throughout the year. Two main recruitment periods annually, with timing varying by : spring recruitment in all ; summer recruitment in polluted sites; autumn–winter recruitment in natural sites.

Life Cycle

Strictly benthic with low rates. Estimated lifespan 9–12 months depending on quality: 9 months in polluted harbor conditions, 12 months in natural rocky shore habitat. Sexual differentiation occurs at larger sizes in higher quality habitat. and reproductive individuals present continuously.

Human Relevance

Used as a bioindicator for assessing environmental quality in coastal marine . and traits (size at sexual differentiation, lifespan, recruitment timing) show measurable responses to pollution, pH, dissolved oxygen, and enrichment.

More Details

Sex ratio and reproduction

Sex ratio is strongly female-biased in all studied . Reproductive individuals are present year-round, indicating continuous rather than seasonal . The degree of environmental plasticity in reproductive timing suggests adaptive flexibility to local conditions.

Environmental stress responses

Individuals in polluted, acidic, hypoxic harbor conditions exhibit smaller body sizes, earlier sexual differentiation, and shorter lifespans compared to those in natural rocky shore . These trait shifts may represent adaptive responses to stress or direct physiological limitation.