Length: 9.5mm. Cephalon smooth; posterior of pereonite 2 through pereonite 5 with many small spines dorsally; pereonites 3 + 4 with spiny antero-lateral projections; pereonite 5 with dorsal large tubercle towards posterior end. Antenna 1 about 1/3 body length; antenna 2 shorter than antenna 1 peduncle. Gnathopod 2 inserted at posterior end of pereonite 2; propodus with square projection on dorso-frontal part (knuckle-like), palm with 1 pair proximal grasping spines and accessory spines, distal ‘tooth’ separated from most distal triangular projection by groove. Gills oval. Pereopods 5 - 7 propodus with 1 pair grasping spines.
Akkeshi Bay, 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.
Found with Caprella drepanochir.
