Pandalus dispar (Rathbun 1902)

Depth Range: 45-650 m

As with all Caridean shrimp, the pleurons of the second abdominal segment overlap those of segment 1 and 2. As with all members of Family Pandalidae, none of the pereopods have exopodites and the carpus of pereopod 2 is subdivided into several units, and the rostrum is prominent and has movable dorsal spines. Pandalopsis dispar has very long first antennae, and the distal half of its rostrum has dorsal spines. Total body length to 20.8 cm.

How to Distinguish from Similar Species: Pandalopsis ampla, a deepwater species, does not have dorsal spines on the distal half of its rostrum. Members of genus Pandalus such as P. platyceros, P. eous, P. hypsinotus, and P. danae have much shorter first antennae. No other local shrimp has the distinctive pattern of abdominal stripes that this species has, though several such as P. hypsinotus and P. danae do have abdominal stripes.

Biology/Natural History: This species is fished commercially with bottom trawls, but because it catches mostly midwater shrimp for its own food it is not usually attracted to shrimp pots. Its large, paddlelike pleopods suggest its ample swimming ability. This species is sometimes parasitized by the bopyrid isopod Bopyroides hippolytes.

Soft bottoms

Geographical Range: Pribilof Islands to Manhattan Beach, Oregon