Mysidacea
202
Mysidacea. (After Tattersall and Tattersall 1951)
with only a few in freshwater. The thorax has a carapace, which is not fused
with the last four thoracic segments but covers them loosely. Most mysids
also have as a characteristic a statocyst at both bases of the tail-legs (uropods).
It is visible as a small black dot from the outside. The first one or two pairs
of thoracic appendages are maxillipeds, the other six or seven are uniform and
filamentous, and are used for swimming. Mysids live in large swarms along
the seabed, and form an important food source for fish. They mostly feed on
small suspended particles.