Length: 12-13.5mm. Head and body smooth. Antenna 1 peduncle longer than body; antenna 2 shorter than peduncle of antenna 1, flagellum 2-segmented. Gnathopod 2 attached anterioirly on pereonite 2, propodus with proximal spine, median projection and distal projection with lateral projection forming a groove distally.Pereopods 3 + 4 one-segmented, elongate and with several setae on palm margin; pereopods 5 - 7 six-segmented, propoduses with proximal pair of grasping spines. Gills large and oval.
Phillipines; Indo-Pacific; 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.
57m
