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Epimeriidae is a family of relatively large Amphipoda found in cold oceans around the world.
The family includes both species that are widespread and species with small ranges (typically restricted to an island, seamount or ridge), and very common species and rare species. Their abundance is often directly related to the epifauna abundance: Where the epifauna is rich and diverse, so are Epimeriidae.
A few species have been kept, bred and studied in cold-water () aquariums by scientists.
Most species are predators or scavengers that feed on benthic invertebrates (such as small crustaceans, , , , and ), or suspension feeders that take plankton (such as , and ). Some are opportunistic feeders that will take a wide range of prey-types, while other species are specialists on one or a few prey types, like hydroids. Epimeria parasitica is a parasite on sea cucumbers.
The newly hatched young resemble miniature versions of the adults (there is no larvae stage). They may climb onto their mother and stay with her for a period, but in other species they leave immediately.
With more than 80 described species, Epimeria is by far the most diverse genus in the family, has been the target of several studies and is considered among the most iconic taxa in Southern Ocean. Nevertheless, many aspects of their life is poorly known, several new species have been described in the last decade and it is likely that several undescribed species remain. There is only a single species in the genus Uschakoviella.
Appearance and behavior
They are relatively large amphipods, with adults of the various species ranging from in head-and-body length. They are typically white, yellowish, orange, pinkish, red or purplish, and some have quite striking colour patterns. Some have a spiny crest along their mid-back and spines on their sides, which may serve as a protection against fish or serve as a "disruptive shape" (similar to disruptive colouration) that camouflages the amphipod.
Taxonomy and genera
Two genera are placed in this family by the World Register of Marine Species. A few others were formerly included, but are now regarded as subgenera (not full genera) or placed in other families ( Actinacanthus in family Acanthonotozomellidae and Paramphithoe in family Paramphithoidae).
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