Category: Amphipods view all from this category

Description 1" (25 mm) long, 3/8" (10 mm) high. Arched, broad, heavy. Gray to reddish-brown. 1st pair of antennae very short, 2nd pair of antennae less than 1/2 body length. Eyes large, bulging, covering most of side of head. 7 bristly walking legs, 2nd enlarged at tip with claw; last 3 bent back along abdomen, last 2 long. Tailpiece triangular, with blunted end.

Habitat On clean, sandy surf of exposed beaches, in burrows, or under logs and debris; near high-tide line and above.

Range Newfoundland to Florida.

Discussion These lively creatures can leap a foot or more, much like fleas. Some bathers are unnecessarily apprehensive about being bitten by beach fleas, which feed only on organic debris. The Long-horned Beach Flea (T. longicornis) is the same size as T. megalophthalma and occurs in the same range. Its 2nd pair of antennae are almost body length and its eyes do not bulge.