Taxonomic group
Paracrangonyctidae: Paracrangonyx
Diagnostic features
Paracrangonyx is one of our lesser known amphipods because they are among an unknown number of amphipod species that normally live in groundwater habitats, and only occasionally turn up in stream samples. Such species tend to be very pale and with rudimentary (if any) eyes. Paracrangonyx is strongly laterally compressed (as if squashed from the sides).
Typical habitats
Paracrangonyx is primarily a groundwater species but they are known from occasional stream samples.
Feeding
They presumably feed on underground microbial films.
Indicator value
- Hard bottom: unassigned; general amphipod value 5
- Soft bottom: unassigned; general amphipod value 5.5
The tolerance values (ranging from 0 to 10) give an indication of which are the sensitive taxa (values of 8 or more) and which are the tolerant taxa (values of 3 or less). For more information see: Indicator species
Paracrangonyx are not likely to be useful indicators of surface water quality. They have not been assigned tolerance values, but the general amphipod values are 5 (hard bottom sites) and 5.5 (soft bottom sites).