Eurydice

A Vulnerable genera from the “Crustaceans” group, mostly found in Sandy Gravel

Sandy Gravel

Vulnerable

Crustaceans

Genera Characteristics	Recorded Traits	Possible Values
Size in cm	<1 cm	<1 cm 1-10 cm 11-20 cm >20 cm

Genera Characteristics	Recorded Traits	Possible Values
Motility (Adult)	Short Range Mobility	Adult Short Range Mobility Sedentary “Short Range Mobility”
Motility (Larval)	Long Term Planktonic	Long Term Planktonic Short Term Planktonic Brooded or Laid Eggs “Long Term Planktonic”
Lifespan	1-2 years	>10 years 3-10 years 1-2 years <1 year
Maturity	1-2 years	>4 years 3-4 years 1-2 years <1 year
Fecundity	10 - 100	1 - 10 10 - 100 100 - 1000 1000 - 10000 10000 - 1 million > 1 million

Image: Eurydice © MES

Vulnerability

Eurydice is a small isopod crustacean belonging to the Family Cirolanidae (Sea lice). It reaches 8-9mm in length & is of moderate mobility, being able to swim up into the water column & burrow in the surface deposits of sand & gravel to feed on invertebrates & carrion in the sediment. It is likely to be vulnerable to dredging, but would be able to tolerate moderate sediment deposition from material mobilised during the dredging process.

Recoverability

The life span of this genus is up to 2yrs, with reproduction from 1yr onwards. The eggs are produced from June-October. They are of a relatively large size (0.5mm) but are only 10-45 in number. These are fertilised internally before being held in a brood-pouch for up to 8 weeks. The larvae are then released into the plankton where they spend up to 40-60 days before settlement. The small number of eggs produced suggests that this genus has a low recoverability following disturbance.

Eurydice

Vulnerability

Recoverability

References

Biology

Taxonomy

Distribution

Reproduction