Pink Skeleton Shrimp

This closeup shows pereonites 5-7 with their appendages, pereopods 5-7. Pereopods 5-7 arise from the posterior end of their segment (pereonite) and are used for gripping the substrate such as this eelgrass blade. The left pereopod 7 is missing.

Caprella linearis;

Caprella unica/Caprella grahami maleCaprella unica maleSpecimens from: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 305797-8; (NMNH) 1110829 (labeled C. grahami)

The propodus of gnathopod 2 is less than 2/3 as wide as it is long. Note also the gill on the segment behind.

Caprella unica gnathopods 2Caprella unica/ Caprella grahami gnathopods 2Specimens from: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 305797-8; (NMNH) 1110829 (labeled C. grahami)

This ventral view shows there is no spine between the large gnathopods 2 and shows the location of the gills.

Caprella dilatata gnathopod 2Caprella dilatata gnathopod 2Specimen: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 23208; Received from the Zoo. Sta. Naples, Italy; Acc No 27,047, 1893. Labelled as C. acutifrons

This view of the head (animal is looking to the left) shows the very large second antennae to the left, then the head with sessile eyes and prominent, forward-directed head spine. Below the head can be seen the first gnathopods which are on the anterior end of the first thoracic segment (pereonite), which extends out of view to the right.

Caprella dilatata femaleCaprella dilatata femaleSpecimen: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 23208; Received from the Zoo. Sta. Naples, Italy; Acc No 27,047, 1893. Labelled as C. acutifrons

Caprella angusta from eelgrass in Padilla Bay. Total length about 4 cm. One of the ventral flaplike gills is visible posterior to the large grasping gnathopods 2, right at the end of the eelgrass. (Photo by: Dave Cowles, July 2008)

Caprella lilliputCaprella lilliput individuals showing miniature size.Specimens from: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 305416

Caprella andreae maleCaprella andreae maleSpecimen: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 113051

Caprella andreae head and gnathopodsCaprella andreae head and gnathopodsSpecimen: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 113051

Caprella carina pereopods 6 + 7Caprella carina pereopods 6 & 7Specimen: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 134426-7

Caprella carina maleCaprella carina maleSpecimen: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 134426-7

Caprella carina gnathopodsCaprella carina gnathopodsSpecimen: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 134426-7

Caprella carina femaleCaprella carina femaleSpecimen: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 134426-7

Caprella danilevskii male showing gnathopod 2Caprella danilevskii male showing gnathopod 2Specimens: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 305410-305411

Caprella drepanochir pereopods 5-7Caprella drepanochir pereopods 5-7Specimen: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 13331; Chamisso Harbor; Esch-Scholts Bay; Alaska; WHDall 3677 (1701) 5-8 ftms

Caprella drepanochir maleCaprella drepanochir maleSpecimen: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 13331; Chamisso Harbor; Esch-Scholts Bay; Alaska; WHDall 3677 (1701) 5-8 ftms

Caprella drepanochir anteriorCaprella drepanochir anteriorSpecimen: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 13331; Chamisso Harbor; Esch-Scholts Bay; Alaska; WHDall 3677 (1701) 5-8 ftms

Caprella drepanochir gnathopods 2Caprella drepanochir gnathopods 2Specimen: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 13331; Chamisso Harbor; Esch-Scholts Bay; Alaska; WHDall 3677 (1701) 5-8 ftms

Caprella drepanochir gnathopod 2Caprella drepanochir gnathopods 2Specimen: National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 13331; Chamisso Harbor; Esch-Scholts Bay; Alaska; WHDall 3677 (1701) 5-8 ftms

Caprella equilibra maleCaprella equilibra maleSpecimens from the National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC: (NMNH) 113619 (labeled as C. aequilibra)