A sand hopper (Allomelita pellucida)

Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.Map Help

Summary

Description

Allomelita pellucida, is a small (up to 6 mm) intertidal species, found in the Northern Atlantic. The body of Allomelita pellucida is laterally compressed, as is typical for amphipods, and the head lacks a rostrum, the gnathopods are subchelate, the second pair being much larger than the first. The urosome dorsal posterior margin lacks spines and the telson is cleft.

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland

A sparsely recorded species, Allomelita pellucida, is widespread around the British Isles including the St Andrew's Bay, Cullercoats, Hampshire, Southern Ireland and Isle of Man.

Global distribution

Found in the northern Artlantic from Portugal to Norway.

Habitat

Allomelita pellucida is an intertidal species which can be found in brackish waters usually living as a part of interstitial or epibenthic communities of soft sediments.

Depth range

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Identifying features

  • Head without rostrum.
  • Second gnathopod larger than first, especially in males, subchelate.
  • Dorsal posterior margin of the urosomal segments without spines.
  • Telson cleft but not entirely split.

Additional information

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Listed by

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Further information sources

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Bibliography

    Datasets

    1. NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org.

    2. Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service, 2017. NBIS Records to December 2016. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/jca5lo accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01.

    3. OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System),  2025. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2025-05-21

    Citation

    This review can be cited as:

    Hosie, A.M. 2008. Allomelita pellucida A sand hopper. In Tyler-Walters H. and Hiscock K. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Reviews, [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 21-05-2025]. Available from: https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/2221

    Last Updated: 16/10/2008