| Freshwater
Sandhopper
They are so-called because they seem to hop or
flip when disturbed in the water or picked up.
What they look like:
Freshwater Sandhoppers look like Slaters. As they
resemble large fleas, they’re also known as beach
fleas. They are slightly curled and flattened sideways.
They have hard segments (rings dividing their body),
each with a pair of legs. Sandhoppers have seven pairs
of walking legs and three pairs of swimming legs, plus
two antennae.
Size:
6-20 mm long.
Where they live:
Freshwater Sandhoppers prefer still or slow-flowing
waters and live under vegetation and rocks. Some species
live in estuaries, the sea or on land.
What they eat:
Freshwater Sandhoppers are omnivores (om-nee-vorz);
they mostly eat dead plant and animal matter, but they
will also eat other animals.
Pollution
tolerance: Tolerant, rating 3.
Freshwater Sandhoppers cannot tolerate chemical
pollution. Pollution damages their delicate gills,
which they use to breathe. |
What’s interesting about
the Freshwater Sandhopper?
|
