Length: 4-12 mm. Head and body with many tuberculations and densely setose, particularly gnathopods 2 and pereonites 2 + 3. Antenna 2 without swimming setae. Gnathopod 2 inserted at middle of pereonite 2; propodus palm with median tooth and distal deep groove, holding a membranous sac; dactylus with two ridges (3 grooves) on grasping margin. Gills elongate. Pereopods 5-7 propodus with grasping spines.
Strait of Gibraltar: South of Tarifa, Spain
Dedicated to Dr Ichiro Takeuchi
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.
Intertidal. On hydroids and amongst sediment under rocks
Distinguished from C. acanthifera by dense tuberculation and setation on dorsal body surfaces.
