Length: 12-17mm. Head with 1-3 pairs of small tubercles; pereonite 1 with 2 pairs minute dorsal tubercles; pereonite 2 with 3 pairs dorsal tubercles; pereonites 3 + 4 with 6 pairs dorsal tubercles, antero- and postero- lateral projections; pereonite 5 with 4 pairs dorsal tubercles; pereonites 6 + 7 each with 2 pairs of dorsal tubercles. Antenna 1 a little longer than ½ body length; antenna 2 a little shorter than antenna 1 peduncle. Gnathopod 2 attached to median of pereonite 2; propodus with proximal projection, small tooth and triangular projection distally. Gills round. Pereopods 5 - 7 propodus with sub-median grasping spines.
Japan; Alaska; Kamchatka
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.
Surface to 30m
