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Neomysis americana is
Neomysis americana is a mysid shrimp native to the Gulf of Mexico south of Terminos Lagoon (Mexico).
Its first Atlantic collection was from the St. Johns River estuary (FL) in 1977, but only a few years later it was found in Chesapeake Bay during a survey in the Patapsco River in 1980.
Mysis shrimp are commonly found in ballast water, so the species may have arrived on a ship from the Gulf of Mexico.
Neomysis americana was first discovered in European waters eight years ago, this time first in the Netherlands.
This species was observed for the first time in 2017 on the French coast in the Seine estuary (Normandy).
As in the Netherlands, this species was probably brought to the French coast by ballast water from ship transports.
The impact of the invasive species on native mysis species is not yet known.
Females of Neomysis americana have a brood pouch in which they can lay their eggs. The complete development of the eggs takes place in this pouch, which is why mysis shrimps are often referred to as opossum shrimps.
Mysis shrimp play an important role in the food chain, as many fish feed on the small shrimp.
Similar species: Neomysis integer, but this has a greater salt tolerance and is less common in the sea.
Synonym: Mysis americana Smith, 1873
Neomysis americana is a mysid shrimp native to the Gulf of Mexico south of Terminos Lagoon (Mexico).
Its first Atlantic collection was from the St. Johns River estuary (FL) in 1977, but only a few years later it was found in Chesapeake Bay during a survey in the Patapsco River in 1980.
Mysis shrimp are commonly found in ballast water, so the species may have arrived on a ship from the Gulf of Mexico.
Neomysis americana was first discovered in European waters eight years ago, this time first in the Netherlands.
This species was observed for the first time in 2017 on the French coast in the Seine estuary (Normandy).
As in the Netherlands, this species was probably brought to the French coast by ballast water from ship transports.
The impact of the invasive species on native mysis species is not yet known.
Females of Neomysis americana have a brood pouch in which they can lay their eggs. The complete development of the eggs takes place in this pouch, which is why mysis shrimps are often referred to as opossum shrimps.
Mysis shrimp play an important role in the food chain, as many fish feed on the small shrimp.
Similar species: Neomysis integer, but this has a greater salt tolerance and is less common in the sea.
Synonym: Mysis americana Smith, 1873
