Bellorchestia quoyana

Bellorchestia quoyana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Amphipoda
Family: Talitridae
Genus: Bellorchestia
Species:
B. quoyana
Binomial name
Bellorchestia quoyana
Synonyms[1]
  • Talitrus brevicornis Milne-Edwards, 1840
  • Talorchestia quoyana (H. Milne-Edwards, 1840)
  • Orchestia quoyana H. Milne-Edwards, 1840

Bellorchestia quoyana (formerly Talorchestia quoyana)[1] is the largest and most common species[2] of sandhopper endemic to New Zealand. It was originally described as Orchestia quoyana in 1840 by French zoologist Henri Milne-Edwards and transferred to the genus Bellorchestia in 2008. Its length is up to 29 millimetres (1.1 in). They help to keep the beaches clean by breaking down any organic material, which is vital for plant succession. They are nocturnal and bury themselves up to 30 centimetres (12 in) during the day (the drier the sand, the deeper they go).[3]

  1. ^ a b Jim Lowry. "Bellorchestia quoyana (H. Milne-Edwards, 1840)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ M. Miller & G. Batt (1973). Reef and Beach Life of New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand: William Collins (New Zealand) Ltd.