Length: 5-6mm. Many dorsal and lateral projections: head often with pair of minute tubercles; pereonite 1 with posterior pair of minute tubercles; pereonite 2 with 1-3 pairs dorsal tubercles and distally directed postero-lateral spine pair; pereonite 3 and 4 with 5-6 dorsal tubercles, antero-lateral and postero-lateral spine pairs; pereonite 5 with median lateral constriction, 2-4 pairs dorsal and lateral tubercles; pereonites 6 +7 with 1-2 pairs posterior dorsal spines. Antenna 1 longer than ½ body length; antenna 2 longer than peduncle of antenna 1. Gnathopod 2 attached to median pereonite 2; propodus sparsely setose, proximal grasping spine, distal small ‘tooth’ and triangular projection; dactylus with slightly serrate inner margin. Gills oval. Pereopods 5 - 7 with grasping spines.
Japan
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.
