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Guide to New Zealand's freshwater invertebrates
Amphipods
(
Corophiidae
: Paracorophium
)
Diagnostic features
In the corophiid amphipods the 2nd (lower) antenna is notably more stout than the first (upper) antenna but this is not as noticeable in Paracorophium as in Corophium. Paracorophium also lacks the somewhat flattened appearance of Corophium. In our specimens the long setae on the gnathopods (leg-like limbs behind the head) are less conspicuous in Paracorophium than in Corophium.
Typical habitats
Paracorophium is primarily an estuarine genus, but they may venture into fresh waters.
Feeding
Paracorophium are likely to be filter feeders using the long setae on their gnathopods to trap suspended organic matter.
Indicator value
The presence of Paracorophium may indicate sea water influence. This genus has not been assigned tolerance values, but the general amphipod values are 5 (hard bottom sites) and 5.5 (soft bottom sites).
