Investigation of the Amathillopsidae (Amphipoda, Crustacea), including the description of a new species, reveals a clinging lifestyle in the deep sea worldwide

Amathillopsidae is a widely distributed, but rarely sampled family of deep-sea amphipods. During a recent
expedition to the North Atlantic, specimens were filmed clinging to a polychaete tube in situ at abyssal
depths by a Remote Operated Vehicle and then sampled for further study. The species was new to science
and is described in detail herein. A barcode sequence is provided. Further investigations of photographic
and video records revealed the genus Amathillopsis to be more widely distributed, both geographically
and bathymetrically, than indicated by current literature records, and that these species occur at abyssal
depths in all oceans. Specimens of Amathillopsis are reported clinging to a variety of different organisms
whose erect structures provide the means to raise these charismatic deep-sea predators above the seafloor
facilitating feeding opportunities.