(No common name)

FAMILY

Diastylidae

TAXONOMY

Diastylis sculpta, Sars 1871.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

None known.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Diastylis sculpta gets its name from the series of large ridges on the carapace that give it a highly sculptured appearance. The carapace of males is somewhat smoother, being streamlined for hydrodynamic purposes. The male has two pairs of pleopods.

DISTRIBUTION

Coast of eastern North America from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to Long Island Sound.

HABITAT

Muddy sand bottoms in shallows of bays and estuaries.

BEHAVIOR

Diastylis sculpta spends most of the day nestled into surface sediment. At night it makes short forays into the overlying water; the purpose of these forays is not known.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Although its specific food has not been investigated, D. sculpta spends most of its time in the sediment sifting through the particles, most likely looking for microalgae and other high-quality organic particles.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

In the Woods Hole, Massachusetts, region, D. sculpta is found from July to January with young in the brood pouch. More than one generation is represented during this period.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not listed by the IUCN.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

Diastylis sculpta is a common food of bottom-feeding fishes, especially flatfishes.