Crangonyx floridanus

Crangonyx floridanus displays two sexes, male and female, and the young are hatched into a brood pouch before they are released into the water. In Japan, it was found that females are present year-round. Females can carry eggs at approximately 4.5 mm in length.[3] There is a direct correlation between the size of the female and the number of eggs it can bear. For example, if a female's body size is 7 mm in length, their mean egg number is 35.5.[2]

Egg development time also corresponds to increasing temperature. As the temperatures rise, the egg maturation rate correspondingly increases as well.[2] These warm temperatures correlate with their habitats. Their native region is the Southeastern region of the U.S. (Florida–Louisiana), and the introduced regions of Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta,[2] United Kingdom,[6] and Japan. Generally, Crangonyx floridanus can be found in inland lakes and rivers, but has now spread its distribution to the mouth of rivers.[3]

Crangonyx floridanus is an omnivorous freshwater amphipod with a high rate of adaptability. They are able to reside within temperatures ranging from 4-20℃, though some may survive in temperatures as high as 30℃. Altogether, this species seeks to reside within cool and high quality waters. Some precise sites where C. floridanus can be found are at headstreams, spring-fed rivers or lakes, and areas with a high quantity of submerged vegetation.[3] Their primary food sources are algae, aquatic plants and invertebrates, depending on their availability.[2] However, this invasive species has also been noted to reside within soft bottom habitats.[7] Its varying characteristics and high vicinity of adaptability make C. floridanus an exceptional invasive species in various ecosystems.

Crangonyx floridanus originates from the Southeastern states of the U.S., with its main concentrations in the Florida peninsula, South Carolina and Louisiana (Bousfield, 1958; Holsinger, 1972; U.S. National Museum of Natural History, 2015). By 1989, Crangonyx floridanus had colonized the main island of Japan. Since 1989, C. floridanus have had rapid growing and dispersal rates, it has become alarming rate for the native species of the areas. In September 2017 and later in 2018, it was also identified in the largest natural lake in England, Lake Windermere. Further investigation has taken place since to confirm its identity, as it has previously been confused with other species (Crangonyx pseudogracilis) as they have vast similarities.[6]