University of California San Diego, USA
Info
"Swarms of so-called "mini-sharks," strandisopods, are preying in California," were some of the headlines in the daily press in August / September 2022.
Beachgoers in Southern California are being attacked by swarms of tiny, aggressive isopods, formerly called "mini-sharks," that seem to have a preference for feet.
These crab-like little creatures snap at the ankles of beachgoers walking along the coast, causing people to jump around in pain, according to local news reports.
"Experts identified the biters as Excirolana chiltoni, a relatively common crustacean that grows about 0.8 centimeters long and can form swarms of more than 1,000 individuals, according to Walla Walla University in Washington.
The tiny pincers have a painful bite and can even suck blood from the sandy feet of their human victims, but are no cause for concern, scientists say."
Synonyms:
Cirolana chiltoni Richardson, 1905
Cirolana chiltoni japonica Thielemann, 1910 ·
Beachgoers in Southern California are being attacked by swarms of tiny, aggressive isopods, formerly called "mini-sharks," that seem to have a preference for feet.
These crab-like little creatures snap at the ankles of beachgoers walking along the coast, causing people to jump around in pain, according to local news reports.
"Experts identified the biters as Excirolana chiltoni, a relatively common crustacean that grows about 0.8 centimeters long and can form swarms of more than 1,000 individuals, according to Walla Walla University in Washington.
The tiny pincers have a painful bite and can even suck blood from the sandy feet of their human victims, but are no cause for concern, scientists say."
Synonyms:
Cirolana chiltoni Richardson, 1905
Cirolana chiltoni japonica Thielemann, 1910 ·
