Caprella pustulata Laubitz 1970

Length: 3.5-9mm. Head and body, gnathopod 2, and pereopods covered with numerous pustulations of various size. Large upward-directed single blunt spine on head, anterior to eyes; aggregations of pustulations anteriorly and posteriorly on pereonites 1 to 4. Laterally, anterior spines on pereonites 2 and 3, and at base of second gnathopods. The cephalon and pereonites 2 to 5 and gnathopod 2 setose. Antenna 1 approximately equal to cephalon plus pereonite 2, first peduncle segment with small dorsal knob distally, all peduncle segments setose; antenna 2 longer than peduncle of antenna 1, flagellum with long swimming setae. Lacinia mobilis of right mandible toothed, but not five-toothed. Gnathopod 1 propodus with two proximal grasping spines, margin of dactylus and propodus serrate. Gnathopod 2 propodus more than twice as long as it is broad, setose proximally and along palmar edge, postulate distally; palm only slightly concave, with small proximal grasping spine and distal poison spine; dactylus heavy but smoothly tapering to distal end, inner margin serrate. Basis attached posteriorly; short and stout, with lateral and medial anteriorly directed tuberculated ridges. Ischium small, merus twice the size of ischium and circular, carpus very small and triangular. Gills small and round. Pereopods 5, 6 and 7 sturdy; palmar surface of propodus concave, with proximal grasping spines, and many spines along margin. Females differ in antenna 1 is not setose; gnathopod 2 attached anteriorly on pereonite 2, propodus not elongate or setose, grasping spine arises from proximal projection with an accessory spine, and poison spine much reduced; no lateral spines on pereonite 2.

Coos Bay OR + North- Washington, British Columbia, Alaska

Descriptive of pustulations on much of the surface of the body and appendages.

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.

On hydroids, bryozoans and sabellid worm tubes

Very similar to C. pilipalma Dougherty & Steinberg 1953. Distinguished by blunt and stout head spine, presence of a distal poison spine on gnathopod 2 (absent in C. pilipalma), raised and large tuberculations (low and small in C. pilipalma) and circular gills (elliptical in C. pilipalma). Also similar to C. scabra Holmes 1904; Laubitz (1970) unable to conclude distinction of species based on current information. Martin 1977 provides table on differentiation of C. scabra, C. pustulata and C. pilipalma.

Caprella pustulata er en art i slekten Caprella innenfor spøkelseskreps-familien (orden Caprelloidea eller «spøkelsestanglopper») - en type tanglopper. Larvene er planktoniske. De er relativt små, med to store ot to små antenner. De lever bare i havet (saltvann), og er utbredt i farvannene ved Alaska, Oregon, Washington og Britisk Columbia.

Arten kan bli 4 - 9 mm lang, og likner mye på Caprella pilipalma.