Length: 16.3mm. Head and body usually smooth anteriorly and with two pairs of dorsal tubercles on pereonite 5. Very slender with pereonites 1 and 2 much elongated. Antenna 1 longer than cephalon plus pereonite 2; peduncle with second article longer than first plus third articles; antenna 2 shorter than the two basal articles of antenna 1, swimming setae short and sparse. Gnathopod 1 with strongly serrate grsping margin to propodus and dactylus. Gnathopod 2 three times longer than it is broad, extreme distal portion setose; palm with proximo-medial grasping spine and accessory spine, distal poison spine separated by a cleft from a more distal triangular projection. Dactylus curved, finely tapered, with short hairs along grasping edge. Basis attached posteriorly on pereonite 2, to whichi t is of approximately equal length. Gills slim, oval. Pereopods 5 to 7 very slender, increasing in length posteriorly; propodus with median grasping spines and no well defined palm. Female differs in gnathopod 2 arises anteriorly, propodus not particularly slender with palm similar to male but with smaller poison spine, dactylus without hairs.
California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Alaska
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.
A sub littoral >30ft and deeper water species (to +1,700m)
Separated from C. linearis by Dougherty and Steinberg (1953), a move contemplated by Mayer.
