These Acrobatic Beach Hoppers Shred All Night Long | Deep Look
Deep Look・2 minutes read
Beach hoppers, or sand fleas, are small crustaceans with unique eyes that help them find their favorite food, kelp, on sandy beaches. These creatures exhibit acrobatic behavior at night, jumping high into the air and playing a crucial role in sandy beach ecosystems by breaking down beach rack and transferring nutrients into the food chain.
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- Beach hoppers, or sand fleas, possess unique eyes called amitidia that enable them to detect shadows and blobs, aiding in their search for kelp, their primary food source, which they consume eagerly, even resorting to cannibalism at times.
- The acrobatic behavior of beach hoppers, propelled by their tails, allows them to jump impressive heights, contributing significantly to the breakdown of beach rack and nutrient transfer in sandy beach ecosystems, ultimately preventing the accumulation of decaying seaweed on beaches.
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Recent questions
What are beach hoppers?
Small crustaceans found on sandy beaches.
How do beach hoppers move?
By using a powerful flick of their tails.
What do beach hoppers eat?
Kelp, which they consume voraciously.
Why are beach hoppers important?
They play a crucial role in sandy beach ecosystems.
How do beach hoppers contribute to the food chain?
By being consumed by predators like shorebirds and insects.
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Summary
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Beach hoppers: small crustaceans with acrobatic behavior.
- Beach hoppers, also known as sand fleas, are small crustaceans found on sandy beaches, ranging in size from that of an ant to a cricket. They have eyes made up of hundreds of cells called amitidia, which allow them to perceive blurry shapes, light, and dark. These creatures are drawn to shadowy blobs on the horizon, hoping to find their favorite food, kelp, which they consume voraciously, sometimes even preying on each other.
- Beach hoppers exhibit acrobatic behavior at night, using a powerful flick of their tails to launch themselves into the air, jumping as high as a person's knees and covering dozens of times the length of their bodies. They play a crucial role in sandy beach ecosystems by feeding on beach rack, breaking it down into smaller parts, and thus initiating the transfer of nutrients into the food chain when they are consumed by predators like shorebirds and insects. Without beach hoppers, beaches would be littered with decaying seaweed.
