Invertebrate · GBIF taxon 5177658
parasitic hyperiid amphipod
Phronima sedentariaAlso known as Pram Bug, Barrel Shrimp
Pram bugs are translucent deep-sea crustaceans famous for hollowing out gelatinous salps to construct buoyant barrel homes. Females use powerful clawed legs to steer these floating transparent nurseries through the ocean while guarding dozens of larvae inside. Participating in massive daily vertical migrations, they ascend into upper ocean layers at night to hunt before sinking back into mesopelagic darkness.
Deep SeaTranslucentParasitoid
1 / 2—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Salps
- Pyrosomes
- Small copepods
Predators
- Deep-sea fish
- Pelagic squid
- Seabirds
ThreatsOcean acidification and marine microplastics
HabitatsOpen ocean pelagic, mesopelagic, and bathypelagic zones
Life span1–2 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAmphipoda
- FamilyPhronimidae
- GenusPhronima
- SpeciesPhronima sedentaria
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Pelagic Sightings: Watch for transparent barrels drifting near the surface during blackwater night dives.
- Gentle Handling: Leave barrel structures submerged to prevent delicate gelatinous walls from collapsing.
Host Species British Museum / Public domain · cc0
Host Species (c) Rosie Yacoub, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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