A report of the huge and complex burrow system of the gebiidean mud shrimp Laomedia sp. (Crustacea: Laomediidae) in Korean intertidals

Abstract We introduce an account of the unique burrow systems of Laomedia sp. and compare their structures between the environmentally distinct Saemangeum and Gomso tidal flats. Laomedia sp. burrows are characterized by the merging of two branched galleries into a main gallery, spiral structures, an...

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Main Authors: Jaehwan Seo, Bon Joo Koo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06514-8
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author Jaehwan Seo
Bon Joo Koo
author_facet Jaehwan Seo
Bon Joo Koo
author_sort Jaehwan Seo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We introduce an account of the unique burrow systems of Laomedia sp. and compare their structures between the environmentally distinct Saemangeum and Gomso tidal flats. Laomedia sp. burrows are characterized by the merging of two branched galleries into a main gallery, spiral structures, and large-volume chambers. These unique structures, not found in other gebiideans, are attributable to the species’ ecological characteristics, wherein a male and female pair cohabit within a single burrow. The upper part of the burrow consists of a horizontal gallery and a vertical shaft connected to the surface. Several horizontal galleries merge into two branched galleries, which then merge into the main gallery, collectively making up the middle part of the burrow. The main gallery is skewed obliquely, spiraling with regular directional changes and extending downward, maintaining a consistent twist direction. Bulging chambers (maximum volume, 590 cm3) are located where the main gallery twists into a spiral. The maximum depth, surface area, and volume of burrows differed between tidal flats: 145 cm, 16,180 cm2, and 18,163 cm3 at Saemangeum and 198 cm, 12,267 cm2, and 10,325 cm3 at Gomso, respectively. This variation is likely caused by the flats’ differing tidal conditions and sediment characteristics. Laomedia sp. burrows increase the sediment–water interface by up to 1,511%, the most observed among marine invertebrate burrows. This study reports to identify the unique burrow systems of Laomedia sp., the largest and morphologically complex among the gebiidean group.
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spelling doaj-art-bdc032f1508042e8bcd518c90d78fb782025-08-20T03:45:28ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-06514-8A report of the huge and complex burrow system of the gebiidean mud shrimp Laomedia sp. (Crustacea: Laomediidae) in Korean intertidalsJaehwan Seo0Bon Joo Koo1East Sea Environment Research Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and TechnologyEast Sea Environment Research Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and TechnologyAbstract We introduce an account of the unique burrow systems of Laomedia sp. and compare their structures between the environmentally distinct Saemangeum and Gomso tidal flats. Laomedia sp. burrows are characterized by the merging of two branched galleries into a main gallery, spiral structures, and large-volume chambers. These unique structures, not found in other gebiideans, are attributable to the species’ ecological characteristics, wherein a male and female pair cohabit within a single burrow. The upper part of the burrow consists of a horizontal gallery and a vertical shaft connected to the surface. Several horizontal galleries merge into two branched galleries, which then merge into the main gallery, collectively making up the middle part of the burrow. The main gallery is skewed obliquely, spiraling with regular directional changes and extending downward, maintaining a consistent twist direction. Bulging chambers (maximum volume, 590 cm3) are located where the main gallery twists into a spiral. The maximum depth, surface area, and volume of burrows differed between tidal flats: 145 cm, 16,180 cm2, and 18,163 cm3 at Saemangeum and 198 cm, 12,267 cm2, and 10,325 cm3 at Gomso, respectively. This variation is likely caused by the flats’ differing tidal conditions and sediment characteristics. Laomedia sp. burrows increase the sediment–water interface by up to 1,511%, the most observed among marine invertebrate burrows. This study reports to identify the unique burrow systems of Laomedia sp., the largest and morphologically complex among the gebiidean group.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06514-8Laomedia sp.Korean intertidalMorphologyDimensionUnique burrow system
spellingShingle Jaehwan Seo
Bon Joo Koo
A report of the huge and complex burrow system of the gebiidean mud shrimp Laomedia sp. (Crustacea: Laomediidae) in Korean intertidals
Scientific Reports
Laomedia sp.
Korean intertidal
Morphology
Dimension
Unique burrow system
title A report of the huge and complex burrow system of the gebiidean mud shrimp Laomedia sp. (Crustacea: Laomediidae) in Korean intertidals
title_full A report of the huge and complex burrow system of the gebiidean mud shrimp Laomedia sp. (Crustacea: Laomediidae) in Korean intertidals
title_fullStr A report of the huge and complex burrow system of the gebiidean mud shrimp Laomedia sp. (Crustacea: Laomediidae) in Korean intertidals
title_full_unstemmed A report of the huge and complex burrow system of the gebiidean mud shrimp Laomedia sp. (Crustacea: Laomediidae) in Korean intertidals
title_short A report of the huge and complex burrow system of the gebiidean mud shrimp Laomedia sp. (Crustacea: Laomediidae) in Korean intertidals
title_sort report of the huge and complex burrow system of the gebiidean mud shrimp laomedia sp crustacea laomediidae in korean intertidals
topic Laomedia sp.
Korean intertidal
Morphology
Dimension
Unique burrow system
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06514-8
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