Eurythenes plasticus

Eurythenes plasticus is a species of amphipod of the genus Eurythenes, first described in 2020.[1] It was named in reference to the PET plastic found in its stomach,[2] after researchers wanted to highlight the impact of plastic pollution.[3]

Eurythenes plasticus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Superorder: Peracarida
Order: Amphipoda
Family: Eurytheneidae
Genus: Eurythenes
Species:
E. plasticus
Binomial name
Eurythenes plasticus
Weston, 2020

Eurythenes plasticus was found at depths between 6,010 m (19,720 ft) and 6,949 m (22,799 ft) deep in the Mariana Trench of the Pacific Ocean in 2014.[4] Researchers from Newcastle University caught four specimens, one of which had plastic particles in its body.[3] The plastic microfibre that was found in its hindgut was 84% similar to PET plastic,[4] showing plastic pollution affects marine organisms even 6,000 metres (20,000 ft) below sea level.

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eurythenes plasticus.
  1. "Researchers discover new amphipod in the Mariana Trench and name it after plastic found in its body". Oceanographic Magazine. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  2. "The new face of the plastics crisis". Newcastle University. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  3. "Eurythenes plasticus: A deep-sea crustacean full of plastic". Deutsche Welle. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  4. Johanna N. J. Weston; Priscilla Carrillo-Barragan; Thomas D. Linley; William D. K. Reid; Alan J. Jamieson (5 March 2020). "New species of Eurythenes from hadal depths of the Mariana Trench, Pacific Ocean (Crustacea: Amphipoda)". Zootaxa. 4748 (1): 163–181. doi:10.11646/ZOOTAXA.4748.1.9. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 32230092. Wikidata Q87566725.


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