Image of Cystisomatidae Willemöes-Suhm 1875

Description:

Description: This is a mesopelagic amphipod from the genus Cystisoma. Based on the elongate first antennae, this beast must be Cystisoma latipes (Stephensen, 1918) or C. gershwinae Zeidler, 2003. The wedge-shaped head in lateral profile indicates the former. C. latipes is not widely reported but appears to be pan-oceanic in lower latitudes and has been recorded from the western Indian Ocean. It is almost transparent, the only pigment is the eye. These are large amphipods: this specimen is probably about 50 mm in length.
Item Type: Image
Title: Pelagic Amphipod
Copyright: SERPENT
Species: Cystisoma sp.
Behaviour: Swimming
Site: Indian -- Indian Ocean -- East Africa -- Pweza-3
Depth (m): 1418
Countries: East Africa -- Tanzania
Habitat: Benthic boundary zone
Rig: Deep Sea Metro I
Project Partners: BG Group, Oceaneering
ROV: Millennium 113
Deposited By: Dr Andrew Gates
Deposited On: 23 July 2015