On the Motility and Locomotive Organs of Beach Flea

Abstract

Some semiterrestrial beach fleas are capable of swimming movement using their pleopods in water. Movements of swimming organ in beach flea were examined by high-speed video camera system. The structural properties of terrestrial beach flea pleopods were studied through the measurements of some morphological parameters. The swimming legs of the beach flea were examined with a color 3D laser scanning microscope. The relation between morphology of pleopod and motility of the beach flea was considered.