Length: 20.5mm. Anterior pereonites normally smooth; posteriorly there may be one or two tubercles on pereonites 5, 6 and 7. Antenna 1 approximately five-sevenths of the length of the body, flagellum longer than peduncle; antenna 2 equal in length of peduncle of antenna 1, flagellum with swimming setae. Gnathopod 1 with strongly serrate margin to propodus and dactylus. Gnathopod 2 propodus less than twice as long as it is broad; palm with proximal grasping spine and accessory spine, distal poison spine and triangular projection. Basis attached just posterior to middle of pereonite 2, with antero-lateral projection. Gills oval. Pereopods 5 to 7 increasing in length, propodus with proximal grasping spines. Female differs in having shorter antenna 1 and gnathopod 2 attached anteriorly on pereonite 2.
British Columbia; Alaska
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.
Deep water caprellid: 14 to 300m
Caprella striata var. glacialis Mayer was probably just an extreme variant of this species.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 97145; .182
