Length: 5mm. Head with acute frontal spine; pereonite 1 with pair of anterior-directed spines at posterior edge; pereonite 2 pair of strong median spines, smaller posterior projections and a lateral projection a the point of insertion of each gnathopod 2; pereonite 3 with 1 pair median and antero-lateral projections; pereonite 4 with 1 pair median, posterior and postero-lateral tubercles; pereonite 5 with 1 pair posterior dorsal tubercles. Antenna 1 longer than ½ body length; antenna 2 a little longer than antenna 1 peduncle. Gnathopod 2 attached to anterior of pereonite 2; propodus proximal grasping spine and accessory spine, distal ‘tooth, u-shaped groove and triangular projection. 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.
50-90m
