Hyperiidea

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The Hyperiidea is one ot the six suborders of amphipods, small aquatic crustaceans. Unlike some other suborders of Amphipoda, hyperiids are exclusively marine and do not occur in fresh water. Hyperiids are distinguished by their large eyes and planktonic habitat. Most species of hyperiids are parasites or predators of salps and jellyfish in the plankton, although Themisto gaudichaudii and a few relatives are free-swimming predators of copepods and other small planktonic animals.

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Taxonomy

According to World Amphipoda Database, 284 species of Hyperiidea are known in 2025.[1]

Some controversy exists as to the number of families in the Hyperiidea, being given as between 20 and 23 depending on whether groups like the Thaumatopsidae are considered distinct or not. The taxonomy of Hyperiidea currently accepted by the World Register of Marine Species is as follows:[2] Template:Col-float

Infraorder Physocephalata Bowman & Gruner, 1973

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Infraorder Physosomata Pirlot, 1929

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Distribution

Hyperiidea are known from many oceans of the world, including 69 species in the Southern Ocean.[3]

In the Streetsia challengeri, the left and right eyes fused to form a single cylindrical eye made of ~2500 ommatidia. It can see all around, but not ahead or behind.[4]

References

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  1. Statistics World Amphipoda Database. VLIZ (27.5.2025)
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