Length: 2.5-7mm. Body smooth dorsally, head of characteristically high-domed shape. Laterally there is some pleural development on pereonites 2, 3 and 4. Antenna 1 as long as head to pereonite 2, peduncle setose. Antenna 2 setose, shorter than peduncle antenna 1. Gnathopod 1 propodus with single proximal grasping spine and strongly serrate margin; dactylus toothed and with serrate grasping margin. Gnathopod 2 with slender basis having distal antero-lateral projection; propodus of female slightly setose, palm serrate, grasping spine proximal. Propodus of male with small proximal spine separated by serrate portion of palm from very large projection with deep triangular cleft immediately distal; remaining palm more or less smooth, with slight, serrate, triangular projection in the angle of the dactylus; dactylus with proximal thickening, setose and tapering more or less evenly distal to the thickening. Gills oval. Pereopods 3 + 4 bi-articulate, the terminal article being minute, both articles being setose. Pereopods 5 - 7 propodus with grasping spines and, in 6+7, having a series of palmar knobs, each bearing a small spine.
Atlantic N. America: Gulf of St Lawrence to Florida; Florida to Texas; Gulf of Mexico; 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.
Intertidal to 17m. Attached to Undaria (Kelp-like algae) other red and green algae, sea grass, hydroids, sponges, alcyonarians, bryozoans.
