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Crustaceans of Zihuatanejo

SUBPHYLUM CRUSTACEA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Crustaceans (Subphylum Crustacea)

-Typical Crustaceans (Superclass Multicrustacea)

-Malacostracans (Class Malacostraca)

-Decapods, Isopods, and Allies (Subclass Eumalacostraca)

-Decapods and Krill (Superorder Eucarida)

-Decapods (Order Decapoda)

-Crabs, Lobsters, Shrimps, and Allies (Suborder Pleocyemata)

-Caridean Shrimps (Infraorder Caridea)

-Superfamily Atyoidea

-Atyid Shrimps (Family Atyidae)

-Genus Potimirim

-Potimirim glabra


Potimirim potimirim is a freshwater shrimp. All Atyid shrimp are filter feeders. They scrape the surface of leaves, tree trunks in decomposition, and stones looking for fungi, bacteria and fine organic matter to eat. They are found in most inland freshwater areas including lakes, rivers, swamps, irrigation ditches, canals and ponds.

Atyid Shrimp

Potimirim glabra

Diet

  • Primarily feeds on algae, diatoms, biofilm, decaying plant material, bacteria, and fine organic detritus.

  • Also consumes microscopic aquatic invertebrates and suspended organic particles.

  • Grazes continuously on submerged rocks, woody debris, and aquatic vegetation using specialized mouthparts.

Range

  • Found from western Mexico south through Central America to northern South America.

  • Along the Pacific slope, it occurs from Jalisco through Colima, Michoacán, Guerrero (including the Zihuatanejo region), Oaxaca, and Chiapas, continuing south to Panama.

  • Occurs in coastal river systems draining into the Pacific Ocean.

Habitat

  • Inhabits clear freshwater streams, rivers, and creeks, particularly those with rocky bottoms and abundant submerged vegetation.

  • Usually found beneath stones, among leaf litter, or clinging to submerged roots and rocks in well-oxygenated water.

  • Like many freshwater shrimps in the family Atyidae, it is amphidromous: adults live in freshwater, while larvae develop in estuarine or marine waters before juveniles migrate upstream.

Size

  • Body length: 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in)

  • Weight: Typically 1–5 g

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