Phronima is a genus of small, deep sea hyperiid amphipods of the family Phronimidae. It is found throughout the world's oceans, except in polar regions. Phronima species live in the pelagic zone of the deep ocean. Their bodies are semitransparent. Although commonly known as parasites, they are more technically correctly called parasitoids. Instead of constantly feeding on a live host, females attack salps, using their mouths and claws to eat the animal and hollow out its gelatinous shell. Phronima females then enter the barrel and lay their eggs inside, and then propels the barrel through the water as the larvae develop, providing them with fresh food and water. Classification The genus Phronima contains these species: Phronima atlantica Phronima bowmani Phronima bucephala Phronima colletti Bovallius, 1887 Phronima curvipes Vosseler, 1901 Phronima dunbari Phronima pacifica Streets, 1887 Phronima sedentaria (Forsskål, 1775) (type species) Phronima solitaria Guérin-Méneville, 1836 Phronima stebbingi Vosseler, 1901 References External links Google search for images of Phronima Hyperiidea Crustacean genera Taxa named by Pierre André Latreille