Body smooth; suture between head and pereonite 1 present, pereonites 2-7 decreasing in length respectively. Close to C. danilevskii, distinguished by: gnathopod 2 basis with distal projection; propodus of male gnathopod 2 is oval + without grasping spines; propodus of female gnathopods 2 is very reduced, oval and without grasping spines; pereopods more elongate, with a pair of medial grasping spines; male abdominal appendages are almost two-articulate. Also similar to C. subinermis Mayer, 1890 and C. tsugarensis Utinomi, 1947; distinguished by elongate basis and carpus of pereopod 7, location of the grasping spines in the middle of the propodus palm of pereopods 5 - 7, and the extremely reduced gnathopod 2 in females.
Western Australia
Dedicated to Dr. Traudl Krapp-Schikel for her important contribution to the knowledge of amphipod crustaceans.
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.
Posidonia beds.
