Length: 7.6-12.5 mm. Body smooth. Antenna 1 shorter than half of body length; antenna 2 shorter than peduncle of antenna 1, with setae, flagellum bi-articulate. Gnathopod 2 atached anterior to median pereonite 2; propodus with median grasping spine having 2 auxiliary spines, post-median projection and distal triangular projection (forming u-shaped groove). Pereopods 5 - 7 lacking grasping spines. Gills elongate.
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.
Attached to Sargassum. At least to 5m depth.
