Leslie Harris, USA
Info
Caprella polyacantha Utinomi, 1947
Caprellidae is a family of amphipods called skeletal shrimp. Their colloquial name refers to the filamentous, slender body that allows them to visually disappear among the fine filaments of algae, hydrozoans, and bryozoans.
Skeletal shrimp are exclusively marine organisms found in oceans worldwide. Some species occur great depths of the ocean, but most prefer to live in the low intertidal and subtidal waters among seagrasses, hydrozoans, and bryozoans.
Skeleton shrimp are omnivorous, feeding on diatoms, detritus, protozoa, smaller amphipods, and crustacean larvae. Some species are filters, using their antennae to filter food from the water or scrape it off the substrate. Most species are predators, sitting and waiting like a praying mantis to prey on smaller passing invertebrates with their gnathopods.
They use their adaptable shape and coloration by assuming a posture that suits their host. They then remain motionless for some time, waiting for passing protozoa or small worms to be preyed upon in a flash.
Members of the family are eaten by fish, shrimp, nudibranchs (such as the lion nudibranch Melibe leonina), and the brooding anemone (Epiactis prolifera). Because they often inhabit seagrass beds with sessile jellyfish (Haliclystus and Thaumatoscyphus), skeleton shrimp frequently prey on jellyfish.
Mating can only occur shortly after the female molt, before her exoskeleton has hardened. After mating, the female incubates the fertilized eggs in her brood pouch until the young hatch. Females of some species have been known to kill males after mating by injecting venom.
The skeleton shrimp Caprella polyacantha grows to 6 mm in length and is found in colder water in Japan, Russia and Korea. It has many thorn-like spines all over its body.
Caprellidae is a family of amphipods called skeletal shrimp. Their colloquial name refers to the filamentous, slender body that allows them to visually disappear among the fine filaments of algae, hydrozoans, and bryozoans.
Skeletal shrimp are exclusively marine organisms found in oceans worldwide. Some species occur great depths of the ocean, but most prefer to live in the low intertidal and subtidal waters among seagrasses, hydrozoans, and bryozoans.
Skeleton shrimp are omnivorous, feeding on diatoms, detritus, protozoa, smaller amphipods, and crustacean larvae. Some species are filters, using their antennae to filter food from the water or scrape it off the substrate. Most species are predators, sitting and waiting like a praying mantis to prey on smaller passing invertebrates with their gnathopods.
They use their adaptable shape and coloration by assuming a posture that suits their host. They then remain motionless for some time, waiting for passing protozoa or small worms to be preyed upon in a flash.
Members of the family are eaten by fish, shrimp, nudibranchs (such as the lion nudibranch Melibe leonina), and the brooding anemone (Epiactis prolifera). Because they often inhabit seagrass beds with sessile jellyfish (Haliclystus and Thaumatoscyphus), skeleton shrimp frequently prey on jellyfish.
Mating can only occur shortly after the female molt, before her exoskeleton has hardened. After mating, the female incubates the fertilized eggs in her brood pouch until the young hatch. Females of some species have been known to kill males after mating by injecting venom.
The skeleton shrimp Caprella polyacantha grows to 6 mm in length and is found in colder water in Japan, Russia and Korea. It has many thorn-like spines all over its body.
