Maryland Biodiversity Project - Saltmarsh Flea (Speziorchestia grillus)

Saltmarsh Flea Speziorchestia grillus

Synonyms: Orchestia grillus.

Kingdom Animalia > Phylum Arthropoda > Class Malacostraca > Order Amphipoda > Family Talitridae > Genus Speziorchestia Saltmarsh Flea - Speziorchestia grillus - https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/view/15352

Typically found under debris at the upper margin of salt marshes (J. McDonald).

Note three dark lines on back. Similar Platorchestia platensis is also smaller.

There are 5 records in the project database.

A Saltmarsh Flea in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/18/2014). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

A Saltmarsh Flea in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/8/2014). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Saltmarsh Flea playing dead in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (11/29/2019). Verified by Prof. John McDonald (ret.) Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

Saltmarsh Flea in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (11/29/2019). (c) Jim Moore (Maryland), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

Saltmarsh Flea in Somerset Co., Maryland (11/9/2023). (c) Nathan T. Jones, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Blast Cat via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

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