Azygocypridina lowryi
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| Azygocypridina lowryi | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Ostracoda |
| Order: | Myodocopida |
| Family: | Cypridinidae |
| Genus: | Azygocypridina |
| Species: | A. lowryi |
| Binomial name | |
| Azygocypridina lowryi Kornicker, 1985[1] | |
Azygocypridina lowryi, colloquially known as the baked bean, is a species of ostracod crustacean or "seed shrimp" in the family Cypridinidae. It is found in deep waters off the east coast of Australia.
Azygocypridina lowryi grows to a length of about 1 cm (0.4 in). It has a shrimp-like body enclosed between a pair of translucent valves that are hinged at the top and are superficially similar to those of a bivalve mollusc. The animal inside is a bright orange colour and can be seen through the valves which has led to local fishermen naming it the "baked bean".[2] There are two pairs of long antennae which project from the shell and which are used in swimming. The first pair bear long iridescent hairs. These act as a diffraction grating and cause iridescence by the diffraction of light in a manner similar to that which happens in a hologram.[2] Another unusual feature of this ostracod is the possession of a lateral eye which takes the form of a hairy flap of skin containing flecks of photosensitive pigment. This eye is unable to form a proper image but is able to detect differences in the intensity of light.[3]