Macro-infauna
Guides
Haustoriidae
Haustoriidae is a family of amphipod crustaceans characterized by stout, robust bodies adapted for burrowing in sandy sediments. They are dominant members of intertidal and shallow subtidal sandy beach communities along the Atlantic coast of North America, with some species extending into the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific coast. The family radiated during the Eocene, with the Pacific-endemic genus Eohaustorius representing the most basal lineage, diverging approximately 31 million years ago. Haustoriidae are distinguished from other amphipod families by their specialized morphology for sand-burrowing and their limited dispersal capabilities, which have resulted in strong population structure and cryptic diversity across their range.