Length: 2.3-7mm. Body smooth. Antenna 1 about 1/3 body length; antenna 2 as long as antenna 1 peduncle. Gnathopod 1 propodus triangular, with 1 proximal grasping spine; grasping margins of dactylus and propodus serrate. Gnathopod 2 propodus slender and elongate, with proximal grasping and distal groove. Gills oval or elliptical. Pereopods 3 + 4 two-segmented; pereopod 5 three-segmented.
NW Atlantic
Derived from the latin "reduncus" meaning curved back, referring to the recurving tip of the abdominal appendage.
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.
Differences from congeners most obvious in abdomen, gnathopods and pereopods 6 and 7.
