Perioculodes longimanus (Spence Bate & Westwood 1868)

This amphipod burrows in the superficial layer of the sediment. Generally, breeding behaviour of infaunal amphipods is influenced by location. In deeper waters the spring rise in temperature initiates breeding, while in shallower waters it is induced by tidal phasing (Fincham, 1971; Lincoln, 1979). Oedicerotids, the amphipod family to which P. longimanus belongs, burrow through the surface layer of the sediment while feeding. Aquarium investigations showed that they are detritivore and only use the mouth parts and the gnathopods for collecting food. They ingest loose detritus sifted from the mud-and-water interface or gathered by the maxillipeds from the rnaterial passed to them by the gnathopods (Enequist, 1949).

Magdalen Islands (from eastern Bradelle valley to the west, as far as Cape North, including the Cape Breton Channel)

P. longimanus is widespread and is frequently recorded from the subtidal in the Delta area down to depths of about 50 metres at the Oyster Ground. The highest densities are recorded at the Dogger Bank and in the eastern part of the Dutch Continental Shelf.

Mediterranean, Atlantic (Griffiths, 1973).

circalittoral of the Gulf and estuary

There seems to be no preference for any type of sediment.

P. longimanus is up to about 5 mm in length. The head has a wide down turned rostrum. The eyes are very large, bright red, completely coalesced and have relatively few large visual elements. The telson is not subdivided. The body is pale orange and translucent (Lincoln, 1979; Hayward & Ryland, 1990)