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unidentified Talitridae


This appeared next to my moth trap at a holiday cottage next to the beach. I have retained the specimen (dry) but am currently unable to find any references that enable me to identify it. It seems plausible that it might be an Orchestia species or something similar. Any advice would be welcome.

unidentified Talitrid unidentified Talitrid
unidentified Talitrid, perhaps Orchestia sp., Porthgwarra (Cornwall, UK), 14th October 2026


I had previously found similar invertebrates on a couple of occasions in north Norfolk, both while moth-trapping and both close to saltmarsh. At the time I tentatively identified them as Sandhoppers Talitrus saltator, but I don't think that was based on any good rationale. My understanding now is that that species has more articles in the flagellum than these show, although I think that only applies to adults and I don't know if these are necessarily adult. I'm not sure if they are necessesarily the same species as each other or the one above from Conrwall - the one from Warham Greens in particular looks to be a sandier colour.

I didn't retain the specimens for these, so unless they can be identified from photos I won't be able to progress them.

unidentified Talitrid unidentified Talitrid unidentified Talitrid unidentified Talitrid
unidentified Talitrid, Brancaster (Norfolk, UK), 24th May 2017


unidentified Talitrid
unidentified Talitrid, Warham Greens (Norfolk, UK), 16th June 2017