| Family: |
Ammotheidae () |
| Max. size: |
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| Environment: |
benthic; marine; depth range 0 - 14 m |
| Distribution: |
Northwest Pacific, Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean. Subtropical to temperate. |
| Diagnosis: |
Female palps and chelifores: smaller than male. Proboscis: Lacks chelifores, and proboscis capable of considerable movement at the region of the 'soft collar'. Proboscis may be directed downwards at right angles to the main axis of the body or even in a more ventro-posterior direction than this. The mouth at the tip of the proboscis is reradiate structure which usually has three lip-lobes and sometimes consist of smooth cuticle. Thrusts the tip of its proboscis through the operculum of the bryozoan Flustra foliacea and feed on the animal within. |
| Biology: |
Coastal to slope (Ref. 19). Feeds on the polyzoan Flustra foliacea (also associated with), and Dynamena pumila (Ref. 12). Method of feeding: proboscis into operculum (Ref. 234). Grasps hydroid tentacles and pulls them off with the proboscis lips (Ref. 121217). Part of a fouling community (Ref. 126174). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
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| Threat to humans: |
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| Country info: |
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