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Freshwater Isopods

Caecidotea sp.

Photo by Machi
Published on Project Noah
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43.6005, -70.2344

Field Notes

Description:

Freshwater crustaceans ~3cm long. What I thought was the head is actually the rear end. The rear looks like it has antennae, as shown in photo 2. Watch a short video I took of them here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCn0520-AF0

Habitat:

Freshwater marsh (in a vernal pool) with lots of leaf debris in the water. Maple and white pine as well as several species of moss (including sphagnum moss) were common in this area.

Notes:

Found in the same vernal pool as many copepods, fingernail clams, and snails.

Reference Links:

Caecidotea - Overview, Caecidotea, Genus Caecidotea - BugGuide.Net

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (13)
Machi
Thank you everyone for your nice comments!
AntónioGinjaGinja
Great series Machi,congrats on the well deserved SOTW and thanks for sharing
roemer1
WOW those photos are amazing! Especially considering their size! We have these guys in a creek in our backyard, and they're pretty tiny! Oh and congrats on getting the spotting of the week. I'm kinda jealous.
Machi
Wow, thank you! It is great that these little creatures can get some appreciation :)
triggsturner
Congratulations Machi on your SOTW. Great images.
NateAndNature
D= What about my water louse? Lol Never mind, your Pictures are ten times better than mine.
AshleyT
Congrats Machi, this incredible close-up has been selected as Spotting of the Week! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectnoah/photos/a.10150595289465603.674700.10150120463815603/10156817374695603/?type=3&theater Twitter: https://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/721899019228811264
Machi
Thank you for the nomination!
AshleyT
Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated!
Machi
Thank you Luis and Polilla!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Wildlife of Northeastern USA
Mission
BioBlitz, Maine
Mission
New England Arthropods
Photographed
PublishedApril 11, 2016

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