Biodiversity & Conservation

An opossum shrimp - Neomysis integer - General information

Neomysis integer

Image Marco Faasse - Neomysis integer.
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Distribution map

Neomysis integer recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

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Neomysis integer is not listed under any importance categories.

General information

Key Icon Researched by: Georgina Budd Text page icon Refereed by: This information is not refereed.

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy

Phylum Arthropoda Arthropods, joint-legged animals, e.g. insects, crustaceans & spiders
Class Malacostraca Crabs, lobsters, sand hoppers and sea slaters
Map icon Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland Records indicate Neomysis integer to have a widespread, but patchy distribution on all British and Irish coasts in locations of lowered salinity, usually estuaries or brackish water enclosures.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Neomysis integer is the dominant mysid shrimp in the upper reaches of estuaries. It is also found in non-tidal lagoons, isolated bodies of nearly freshwater, and in high shore hypersaline pools, but is rare in fully marine habitats.
Text page icon Description A slender, free-swimming, shrimp that grows up to 17 mm in length. Its body is almost transparent, with occasional brown pigmentation. The species has a well developed carapace, which protects the large stalked eyes, head and thorax. The rostrum of the head is distinctly pointed but short. Its antennae are conspicuous and biramous (having an inner and outer extension), the outer extension (exopod) of the second pair of antennae, takes the form of a flattened plate, known as the antennal scale. The antennal scale is bordered along its margin with setae and is an important diagnostic characteristic. Thoracic limbs are well developed and also biramous, the outer set have a distinctly feathery appearance. Abdominal limbs are less developed and finger-like, with the exception of the last pair which are biramous and flattened, and form the tail fan (uropods).

This review can be cited as follows:

Georgina Budd 2008. Neomysis integer. An opossum shrimp. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 19/06/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesfullreview.php?speciesID=3884>