Length: 6.5-30mm. Body spination variable, but always: long slender anteriorly pointing cephalic spine, and small ventral spine between the insertions of the gnathopods 2. Antero-lateral spines on pereonites 3 and 4 but no dorsal spines, to antero-lateral spines on pereonites 3 to 6, lateral spines over gills on pereonite 3, median dorsal spine posteriorly on pereonite 2, medially and posteriorly on 3 and 4, medially on 5 and two pairs on 6. Antenna 1 longer than cephalon plus pereonites 2 and 3; antenna 2 shorter than antenna 1 peduncle articles 1+2, flagellum with swimming setae. Gnathopod 1 with serrate grasping margins to dactylus and propodus. Gnathopod 2 propodus longer than basis and four times longer than it is wide, narrow proximally and widening distally; palmar surface with two strong projections, one medial with associated accessory spine, second distal to this and in front of a distal triangular projection; proximal and antero-distal surfaces setose. Dactylus short. Basis attached posteriorly on pereonite 2 and bearing an antero-lateral projection distally. Gills long, elliptical. Pereopods 5 to 7 increasing in length; propodus palmar surface concave, grasping spines proximal. Female differs in antenna 2 as long as peduncle of antenna 1; gnathopod 2 attached anteriorly, propodus not elongates, palm with proximal grasping spine and accessory spine and minute distal poison spine, basis short.
California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Chile, SW Japan, Korea, South China Sea, Formosa Strait.
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.
In bays (on algae, eelgrass and hydroids) and on outer coast on coralline algae; sub littoral in kelp beds
Described as a variety of C. scaura by Mayer 1890, Laubitz 1970 assigned all 3 varieties (C. scaura var. californica, C. scaura var. scauroides and C. scaura var. spinirostris) to C. californica.
Caprella californica is a species of amphipod in the family Caprellidae. It is found in temperate Asia.[1][2][3]
Caprella californica is a species of amphipod in the family Caprellidae. It is found in temperate Asia.
