Ramellogammarus similimanus

Ramellogammarus similimanus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Amphipoda
Family:	Anisogammaridae
Genus:	Ramellogammarus
Species:	R. similimanus
Binomial name
	Ramellogammarus similimanus; Bousfield, 1961

Ramellogammarus similimanus is a crustacean species in the family Anisogammaridae. Because this amphipod only resides in the Portland metropolitan area, in Oregon, United States, it has been given the common name Stumptown scud.^[1]

Description

R. similimanus is about the size of a pinky nail.^[1] It has a curled outer shell of a golden color^[1] and long antennae.^[1] Its appearance has been described as a "cross between a prawn and a potato bug."^[2] Similar to marsupials, females have a pouch in which they carry their eggs.^[2]

Habitat and range

The species is believed to only exist within the boundaries of the Portland metropolitan area.^[1] It lives in small freshwater creeks and tributaries.^[1] "Stumptown" is a nickname applied to Portland and several other locations in the United States.^[3]^[4]^[5]

Behavior and ecology

R. similimanus is difficult to observe as it prefers to remain hidden under the organic material on which it feeds.^[1]^[6] It can only move via connected waterways, limiting its geographic scope.^[1] Scavenged dead and decaying material makes up its diet.^[1] It is consumed by amphibians and fish.^[1]

Mating involves a complex ritual.^[2] Males search for maturing females who are nearly ready to molt out of their shells.^[2] The males then ride the backs of the females to secure them and prevent other males from stealing their chosen mate.^[2]

Research

The species was first described by Edward L. Bousfield in 1961.^[7] The Oregon Zoo funded research conducted by Oregon State University through the "Oregon Zoo Foundation's Future for Wildlife program".^[8] The researchers have used the environmental DNA methodology in order to minimize impact on a small and vulnerable population.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Williams, Kale (May 3, 2017). "This tiny crustacean only lives in Portland" (Video). Oregon Live. Portland, Oregon. Archived from the original on May 6, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Tomlinson, Stuart (May 1, 2017). "Stumptown scud: Researchers say small crustacean resides exclusively in Portland waterways". Portland, Oregon: KATU. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
^ "From Robin's Nest to Stumptown". End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. Archived from the original on November 22, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
^ MacColl, E. Kimbark (1979). The Growth of a City: Power and Politics in Portland, Oregon 1915–1950. Portland, Oregon: The Georgian Press. ISBN 0-9603408-1-5.
^ MacColl cites the "4 March 1877, entry in 'Autobiographical Account', John C. Ainsworth Papers, OHS; Oregonian; 4 December 1900"
^ Vogt, Tom (April 23, 2017). "Off Beat: Stumptown scud doesn't live here, but its cousin does". The Columbian. Vancouver, Washington. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
^ Thorp, James H., Ed.; Rogers, D. Christopher, Ed. (December 28, 2015). Thorp and Covich's Freshwater Invertebrates: Keys to Nearctic Fauna. Elsevier Science. p. 589. ISBN 9780123850294.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ "Scientists scour Portland for 'Stumptown scud'". Oregon Zoo. April 19, 2017. Archived from the original on April 22, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2017.

External links

"Ramellogammarus similimanus – Portland Metro's own freshwater crustacean species: What we know and don't know by Bill Gerth" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-03-24. Retrieved 2017-05-04.