Abludomelita obtusata (Montagu 1813)

A slender amphipod up to 9 mm long. The second pair of claws is remarkably well developed in the males. No rostrum. Brownish colour.

Abludomelita obtusata is present at the open coast (less in Ooster- and Westerschelde). Not present in the tidal area.

Because of the very low distribution frequency it is not possible to deduce a clear distribution pattern of Abludomelita obtusata for the 1976-1986 period. In the 1994-2001 period, however, the species was mainly found in the near-coastal zone, with the exception of the eastern coastal zone. The species had a relatively high distribution frequency in this period. The density also increased considerably: from a maximum of 150 ind./m2 in the 1976-1986 period to a maximum of 550 ind./m2 in the 1994-2001 period.

Abludomelita obtusata has no clear preference for a specific grain size: the species is found in sediments with a median grain size up to 500 µm. However, a clear preference can be seen with regard to the mud content. Abludomelita obtusata reaches a relative occurrence of over 40% in sediments with a mud content of 10 to 40%. The species is nevertheless also observed in sediments with higher or lower mud contents.