Caprellinae Leach 1814

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.

This female skeleton shrimp is climging to a red alga. She is brooding her young in the red dotted marsupium. Here five juveniles are climbing over their mother.

This view shows the same individual from the dorsal aspect.

Caprella linearis;

Caprella kennerlyi posteriorCaprella kennerlyi posteriorSpecimens from: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 25950

In this ventral view of the anterior half of the body, the gnathopods present at the anterior end of pereonite 1 and at the posterior end of pereonite 2 are visible. It has no gills on either of these pereonites.

Caprella kennerlyi anteriorCaprella kennerlyi anteriorSpecimens from: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 25950

In this ventral view of the posterior half of the body (head is to right), the flat leaflike gills can be seen on midsections of pereonites 3 and 4 (part of the second gnathopods can be seen at the right on pereonite 2). Ahead of each gill is a small bump which is the vestigial pereopod for that pereonite. Pereonites 5-7 on the left have well-developed pereopods which act as claws to attach the animal to the eelgrass.

Caprella kennerlyi anteriorCaprella kennerlyi anteriorSpecimens from: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 25950

skeleton shrimp and young

This view shows pereonites 3 and 4 closer up (the end of pereonite 2 with ghathopod 2 is visible to the right). On each of pereonites 3 and 4 a small, 1-article vestigial pereopod can be seen projecting from near the front of the article and a leaflike gill projects from farther back. Note the large dorsal, forward-directed spine on both pereonite 3 and 4.

Caprella horrida maleCaprella horrida maleSpecimens from: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 25905; (NMNH) 112832; Series-Loubyrne; Hudson Bay; Trawl;

In this lateral view of the head and antennae 2, the long setae on antennae 2 can be seen. The next to last article of antenna 2 is about 6x as long as wide and has setae at least 2x as long as the article is wide. Notice also the large, single dorsal spine on the head and the small first gnathopods at the anterior end of pereonite 1. The large first antennae are extending upward out of the picture.

Caprella horrida gnathopods 2Caprella horrida gnathopods 2Specimens from: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 25905; (NMNH) 112832; Series-Loubyrne; Hudson Bay; Trawl;

This dorsal view of the head shows more clearly the first and second antennae.

Caprella unica/Caprella grahami maleCaprella unica maleSpecimens from: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 305797-8; (NMNH) 1110829 (labeled C. grahami)

Tritella pilimana found on eelgrass on March Point, Padilla Bay June 2007. Total length not including antennae = 2.4 cm. (Photo by: Dave Cowles July 2007)

Caprella unica gnathopods 2Caprella unica/ Caprella grahami gnathopods 2Specimens from: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 305797-8; (NMNH) 1110829 (labeled C. grahami)

Caprella dilatata gnathopod 2Caprella dilatata gnathopod 2Specimen: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 23208; Received from the Zoo. Sta. Naples, Italy; Acc No 27,047, 1893. Labelled as C. acutifrons