# Phronima

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{{Short description|Genus of crustaceans}}
{{Automatic Taxobox
| image = Phronima sedentaria (YPM IZ 075000).jpeg
| image2 = Phronima sedentaria 3685226.jpg
| image2_caption = Specimens of ''[Phronima sedentaria](/source/Phronima_sedentaria)''
| taxon = Phronima
| authority = [Latreille](/source/Pierre_Andr%C3%A9_Latreille), 1802
| type_species = ''[Cancer sedentarius](/source/Phronima_sedentaria)''
| type_species_authority = Forsskål, 1775
}}
thumb|Photnima Sedentaria Offspring
'''''Phronima''''' is a genus of small, [deep sea](/source/deep_sea) [hyperiid](/source/Hyperiidea) [amphipod](/source/amphipod)s of the family [Phronimidae](/source/Phronimidae). It is found throughout the world's oceans, except in [polar region](/source/polar_region)s.<ref name="Lowry">{{cite book |author=James K. Lowry |year=2003 |title=Peracarida : Amphipoda, Cumacea, Mysidacea |series=Volume 2, Part 2 of Crustacea: Malacostraca in Zoological catalogue of Australia |publisher=[CSIRO Publishing](/source/CSIRO_Publishing) |isbn=978-0-643-06902-2 |chapter=Phronimidae |pages=339–344 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y5LTA9bAHqYC&pg=PA341}}</ref> ''Phronima'' species live in the [pelagic zone](/source/pelagic_zone) of the deep ocean. Their bodies are semitransparent. Although commonly known as parasites, they are more technically correctly called [parasitoids](/source/parasitoids).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livescience.com/43076-meet-phronima-the-barrel-riding-parasite-that-inspired-the-movie-alien.html |title=Meet Phronima, The Barrel-Riding Parasite That Inspired The Movie Alien |work=Live Science |author=Katie O'Dwyer |date=February 3, 2014}}</ref> Instead of constantly feeding on a live host, females attack [salp](/source/salp)s, using their mouths and claws to eat the animal and hollow out its gelatinous shell.<ref name="Benningfield">{{cite web |url=http://www.scienceandthesea.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=154&Itemid=10 |title=''Phronima'' |author=Damond Benningfield |date=June 8, 2008 |accessdate=October 11, 2010 |work=Science and the Sea |publisher=[University of Texas](/source/University_of_Texas_System) Marine Science Institute}}</ref> ''Phronima'' females then enter the barrel and lay their eggs inside, then propel the barrel through the water as the larvae develop, providing them with fresh food and water.<ref name="Benningfield"/>

It is sometimes thought to be an inspiration for the fictional [xenomorphs](/source/Xenomorph).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leung |first=Tommy |date=2014-01-20 |title=Parasite of the Day: Phronima sp. |url=https://dailyparasite.blogspot.com/2014/01/phronima-sp.html |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Parasite of the Day}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Johnsen |first=Sönke |date=2000 |title=Transparent Animals |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26058604 |journal=Scientific American |volume=282 |issue=2 |pages=80–89 |doi=10.1038/scientificamerican0200-80 |jstor=26058604 |pmid=10710790 |bibcode=2000SciAm.282b..80J |issn=0036-8733|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

''Phronima'' species possess unique compound eyes adapted to detect blue-green wavelengths of light, which are prominent in the bioluminescent flashes of potential prey and predators. These specialized visual adaptations aid Phronima in navigating the dim mid-ocean environment, where bioluminescence serves as an important ecological signal.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

==Classification==

The genus ''Phronima'' contains these 10 species:<ref>{{WoRMS |title=''Phronima'' Latreille, 1802 |db=Amphipoda |id=101804 |access-date=21 September 2024}}</ref>
*''[Phronima atlantica](/source/Phronima_atlantica)'' {{small|Guérin-Méneville, 1836}}
*''[Phronima bowmani](/source/Phronima_bowmani)'' {{small|Shih, 1991}}
*''[Phronima bucephala](/source/Phronima_bucephala)'' {{small|Giles, 1888}}
*''[Phronima colletti](/source/Phronima_colletti)'' {{small|Bovallius, 1887}}
*''[Phronima curvipes](/source/Phronima_curvipes)'' {{small|Vosseler, 1901}}
*''[Phronima dunbari](/source/Phronima_dunbari)'' {{small|Shih, 1991}}
*''[Phronima pacifica](/source/Phronima_pacifica)'' {{small|Streets, 1877}}
*''[Phronima sedentaria](/source/Phronima_sedentaria)'' {{small|(Forskål, 1775)}} ([type species](/source/type_species))<ref name="Lowry"/>
*''[Phronima solitaria](/source/Phronima_solitaria)'' {{small|Guérin-Méneville, 1844}}
*''[Phronima stebbingi](/source/Phronima_stebbingi)'' {{small|Vosseler, 1901}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
7. Osborn, K.J., Baldwin Fergus, J. (2020). Hyperiid Amphipod Adaptations to Mid-Ocean Environments. Smithsonian Ocean. National Museum of Natural History.

==External links==
*[https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=phronima&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=oZmaVY_hD4OssAGzm4KgBw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=1008 Google search for images of Phronima]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1761575}}

Category:Hyperiidea
Category:Amphipod genera
Category:Taxa named by Pierre André Latreille

{{amphipod-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Phronima](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phronima) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phronima?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.