Length: 39mm. Head smooth; pereonite 1 with pair posterior dorsal spines; pereonite 2 with 2 pairs anteriorly directed dorsal spines (behind insertions of gnathopods 2 and posterior); pereonites 3 + 4 with 6 pairs dorsal spines, antero-lateral pair of spines, up to 2 additional lateral spines and projection above insertion of gills; pereonite 5 with 5 pairs dorsal spines, most posterior pair long and distally directed, pair of antero-lateral spines; pereonites 6 + 7 with 2 pairs dorsal spines each. Antenna 1 little longer than ½ body; antenna 2 shorter than peduncle of antenna 1. Gnathopod 2 attached distally to pereonite 2; propodus with proximal grasping spine, distal small projection and most-distal long and large triangular tooth. Pereopods 5 - 7 propodus with grasping spine. 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.
348m, 3.3°C, sandy mud
