Lophogastrids: Lophogastrida

Little is known about the behavior of lophogastrids. They are very difficult to observe in the wild. Recently they have been raised in captivity at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. Lophogastrids spend all their time swimming and use their pleopods to propel through the water. They use their pereopods to keep oxygen-carrying water flowing through their gills.

It is likely that both males and females are required for reproduction, but mating has never been observed. The eggs are kept in the brood pouch until they hatch. The hatchlings have a complete set of thoracic limbs.