<I>Phronima</I> (IMAGE)

Duke University

<I>Phronima</I>

Caption

Phronima is a crustacean that lives in the twilight zone of the ocean, where there is nowhere to hide from predators. In addition to being nearly transparent, a new study has found that she and other midwater crustaceans carry an anti-reflective optical coating that may be made of living bacteria. At top left is the hollowed out shell of her prey, the salp, which becomes a floating nest to raise her babies, one of which is below her tail.

Credit

Laura Bagge, Duke University

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