Length: 9.9mm. Head with 1 anterior directed spine; separated from pereonite 1 by distinct suture. Pereonite 1 with dorsal spine. Pereonite 2 with pair of median spines and single posterior spine; small spine antero-lateral to insertions of gnathopod 2. Pereonite 3 + 4 spines: 2 small pairs and single longer anterior, 1 pair mid and single posterior; 1-3 lateral spines over gill insertions. Pereonite 4 spines: single anterior, paired mid and single posterior and small pair postero-lateral; lateral spines over gill insertions. Pereonite 5 spines: paired antero-lateral, mid and postero-lateral; single posterior. Pereonite 6: 2 unpaired spines, 1 small spine at base of pereopod insertions. Pereonite 7: 1 unpaired spine, 1 small spine at base of pereopod insertions. Antenna 1 longer than head to pereonite 2. Antenna 2 shorter than antenna 1 peduncle. Gnathopod 1 propodus triangular, dactylus with serrate grasping margin. Gnathopod 2 propodus heavy, with antero-distal projection; palm with proximal projection bearing a small spine, and distally, one small and one large projection. Gills elliptical. Pereopods 5 to 7 of increasing size, anterior margin of segments 3 and 4 setose, propodus with pair of proximal grasping spines, and palmar spines.
Arctic boreal species: Eastern and Western Greenland; Haugesund, Norway; Spitsbergen; Faroe Islands; Iceland; off Nova Scotia; Banquereau Banks; off Cape Cod.
Caprellid, “Ghost” or “Skeleton” shrimps, so called for their skeletal appearance. Amphipod crustaceans, easily distinguished by the elongate stick-like body form and reduction of the abdominal appendages. Head is generally fused with pereonite 1. Pereopods on first 2 segments (pereonites) are most flexible and called gnathopods; gnathopods 2 being the largest, used in defense, feeding and substrate attachment. In many species pereopods 3 and 4 may also be reduced or absent. Gills on pereonites 3 + 4, rarely on pereonite 2. Pereopods 5 - 7 much smaller than 1 + 2, used for clinging to the substratum. In females, brood plates (öostegites) develop on pereonites 3 + 4. Much remains to be learnt about their biology, ecology and in many cases changing distributions.
Usually found in deep water, down to 1026m. On red and brown algae, hydroids and from the asteroid Brisinga.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 34786; Id J. McCain 1966; From Cable Banquereau; USFC 1878; (NMNH) 265803; Id J. McCain 1966; From Dredge Haul no.2; Aug 1954; Del. 59-9 Sta. 71
