Gammarus sp.

Description:

This freshwater crustacean lives on decaying plants and detritus also eating algae and other microorganisms. Body is laterally flattened from side to side. They have no carapace or stalked eyes. The anterior end of the species is characterized by the head (which is composed of six compound segments), and 2 antennae. The main body consists of the thorax (composed of 7 segments called pereonites), the abdomen (composed of 3 segments, the pleonites) followed by the uronites. The thorax is accompanied by 7 thoracic limbs called pereopods. The front two are used primarily for capturing food and the others function as walking legs. The abdomen is accompanied by three more legs, the pleopods. A special characteristic is the uropods, which are three small legs in the posterior end of the scud.

Habitat:

Their habitat is characterized by highly oxygenated water and vegetation.