I took a sample from Puget sound and I've seen quite a large number of these turn up. They're all dead, usually empty with nematodes swimming in and around them. They're quite small, it will fill the view at about 200-300x and I have no idea what they are. It looks like eight legs, each with a single hook claw on the end.
Any ideas? I've never seen them in previous samples from the same location. Sorry about the poor picture quality.
Need help identifying critter
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Critter
Looks like a water mite. If the other examples have eight legs that pretty much nails the ID.
Mike
Mike
Michael Reese Much FRMS EMS Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
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Critter
Looks like a water mite. If the other examples have eight legs that pretty much nails the ID.
Mike
Mike
Michael Reese Much FRMS EMS Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
Thanks for the replies
I just went to look at water mites online and they all seem to have long spindly legs. The only mite I found that had these stumpy legs and pointy head, as well as the distinctive ridge patterning on the body were dust mites. I saw one from the side and the ridges were exactly the same as the picture linked below.
http://waywardblogging.com/wp-content/u ... 24x943.jpg
Maybe a clump of dust from somewhere fell in and contaminated my sample. That would explain why I hadn't seen them previously.
I just went to look at water mites online and they all seem to have long spindly legs. The only mite I found that had these stumpy legs and pointy head, as well as the distinctive ridge patterning on the body were dust mites. I saw one from the side and the ridges were exactly the same as the picture linked below.
http://waywardblogging.com/wp-content/u ... 24x943.jpg
Maybe a clump of dust from somewhere fell in and contaminated my sample. That would explain why I hadn't seen them previously.