Onisimus nanseni (Sars, 1900)
A common Arctic sea ice amphipod
Size
- juveniles ?
- Adults up to 25 mm
Color & Characteristics
- Transparent to whitish
- Eyes red
Habitat
- Panarctic, endemic (only found in Arctic)
- Only found in association with sea ice
- Prefers multiyear ice, but can be found on first year ice
Feeding
- Adults primarily omnivorous, and detritivorous
- Diet consists of crustaceans, carrion, phytodetritus
Life cycle
- not more than 100 eggs per female life span
- one egg clutch per year
- offspring released during spring or summer
- Estimated life span 2.5 years
Page Author: Bodil Bluhm
Created: Feb 4, 2009
