Onisimus litoralis (Krøyer 1845)

A common Arctic shallow water & sea ice amphipod

one clutch per year, typcially 10-30 eggs, maximum of 50; up to 100 eggs per female life span; offspring released during spring; Estimated life span 2.5 years

Panarctic, endemic (only found in Arctic); Seafloor in nearshore waters; Common in intertidal, shallow subtidal, soft sediments; Underside of coastal pack ice during times of ice cover

Adults opportunistic: herbivorous, scavangers, carnivorous; Diet of crustaceans; sea ice algae during times of ice cover

Yellowish-pinkish to light grey; Eyes red; Distincted form congenerics by deep notch on uropod-2

southern Gaspe waters (Baie des Chaleurs, Gaspe Bay to American, Orphan and Bradelle banks; eastern boundary: eastern Bradelle Valley), downstream part of middle St. Lawrence estuary, middle North Shore (from Sept- Iles to Cape Whittle, including the Mingan Islands); lower North Shore

bathyal, infralittoral and circalittoral of the Gulf and estuary