Length: 8-12mm. Body smooth. Antenna 1 longer than half of body length; antenna 2 shorter than antenna 1 peduncle segments 1 + 2. Gnathopod 2 attached to median of pereonite 2; propodus with median grasping spine, distal spine separated from triangular projection by groove. Pereopods 5 - 7 without grasping spines.
Peter the Great Bay, Russia
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.
