Orchestia is a genus of amphipod in the crustacean class Malacostraca. The order Amphipoda contains over 6000 species commonly called side swimmers, scuds and beach fleas(1). Most are marine bottom-dwellers utilizing their thoracic legs and posterior abdominal uropods for walking, crawling and swimming. However, some, like those in the genera Orchestia and Hyale are semiterrestrial. These amphipods, commonly referred to as “beach fleas,' “beach hoppers” or “sand fleas” can hop vigorously for great distances (up to 50 times their length) by extending their abdomens and telsons against the sand(2).In our study, the ultrastructure of the dorsal muscle cord of Orchestia grillus was examined. Vogel(3) described the abdominal muscles of Orchestia cavimana as consisting of two groups of muscles: a strong, complex, dorsal muscle cord used mainly for hopping and a group of weaker, ventral, longitudinal and oblique muscles.The specimens were collected in clumps of decaying seaweed and other detritus from the intertidal zone near the high water mark at Avery Point Beach, Connecticut.
