Length: 3-4mm. Body smooth. Gnathopod 1 propodus triangular with 1 proximal grasping spine; grasping margins of dactylus and propodus serrate, dactylus with distinct teeth on grasping margin. Gnathopod 2 propodus with proximal grasping spine, distal tooth and notch at midlength; dactylus smooth. Pereopods 3 + 4 two-segmented, distal article with 1 plumose and 2 non-plumose setae. Pereopods 5 – 7 six-segmented, propodus palm with pair of grasping spines.
Antigua, West Indies; Puerto Rico
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.
