Caprellidae is a family of amphipods commonly known as skeleton shrimps. Their common name denotes the threadlike slender body which allows them to virtually disappear among the fine filaments of seaweed, hydroids and bryozoans. They are sometimes also known as ghost shrimps.
| Caprellidae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pariambus typicus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Amphipoda |
| Suborder: | Senticaudata |
| Infraorder: | Corophiida |
| Parvorder: | Caprellidira |
| Superfamily: | Caprelloidea |
| Family: | Caprellidae Leach, 1814 |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Description
Caprellids are easily recognizable from other amphipods because of their slender elongated bodies. Their bodies can be divided into three parts: the cephalon (head), the pereon (thorax), and the abdomen. The pereon comprises most of the length of the body. It is divided into seven segments known as pereonites. The cephalon is usually fused to the first pereonite; while the highly reduced and almost invisible abdomen is attached to the posterior of the seventh pereonite. They possess two pairs of antennae, with the first pair usually longer than the second pair. The cephalon contains mandibles, maxillae, and maxillipeds which function as mouthparts.
Each pereonite has a pair of appendages known as pereopods. The first two pairs are modified into raptorial appendages known as gnathopods. These are used for feeding and defense, as well as locomotion. The third and fourth pair of pereopods are usually reduced or absent altogether. In the third and fourth pereonites are two pairs of gills. Sometimes a third pair of gills may also be present on the second pereonite. In mature females, brood pouches formed by extensions of the coxae (oostegites) are present on the third and fourth pereonites. The fifth to seventh pair of pereopods are smaller than the gnathopods and are used for clasping objects the animals anchor themselves upon.
Most caprellids are highly sexually dimorphic, with the males usually being far larger than the females.
Ecology
Caprellids are exclusively marine and are found in oceans worldwide. A few species are found in the ocean depths, but most prefer low intertidal zones and subtidal waters among eelgrass, hydroids and bryozoans. They are typically seen attached to substrate by their grasping appendages called the pereopods.
Caprellids are omnivorous, feeding on diatoms, detritus, protozoans, smaller amphipods, and crustacean larvae. Some species are filter feeders, using their antennae to filter food from the water or scrape it off the substrate. Most species are predators that sit and wait like a praying mantis, with their gnathopods ready to snatch any smaller invertebrates which come along. They accentuate their adaptive form and colouration by assuming an angular pose, resembling that of the fronds among which they live. They remain motionless for long periods of time while waiting to ambush their prey, often protozoa or small worms.
Caprellids are typically preyed upon by surf perch, shrimp, nudibranchs such as the lion nudibranch Melibe leonina and brooding anemones (Epiactis prolifera). Since they often inhabit eelgrass beds with sessile jellyfish, (Haliclystus and ), the caprellids frequently become jellyfish food. Caprellids are not normally considered a main source of food for fish, but when shiner perch (Cymatogaster aggregata) migrate into the eelgrass beds for reproduction, they target caprellids.
Reproduction and growth
Mating can only occur when the female is between the new and hardened exoskeletons, which both male and female molt in order to grow. After mating the female will brood the fertilized eggs within her brood pouch. The young will hatch and emerge as juvenile adults. After mating, the female in some species have been known to kill the males by injecting venom from a claw within their gnathopod.
Taxonomy
Caprellidae is classified under the superfamily Caprelloidea which belongs to the infraorder Caprellida of the suborder Corophiidea. Caprellidae contains 1345 genera in three subfamilies.
Caprellinae
- McCain, 1966
- Mayer, 1903
- Aeginella Boeck, 1861
- Arimoto, 1970
- Aeginina Norman, 1905
- Caprella Lamarck, 1801
- Guerra-García, 2003
- Ortiz et al., 2009
- Mayer, 1890
- K. H. Barnard, 1957
- Mayer, 1890
- Heterocaprella Arimoto, 1976
- Arimoto, 1978
- Laubitz, 1995
- Mayer, 1890
- Huntsman, 1915
- Mayer, 1903
- Mayer, 1890
- Mayer, 1903
- Mayer, 1903
- Mayer, 1903
- Mayer, 1890
- Mayer, 1890
- Hirayama, 1990
- Mayer, 1903
- Pariambus Stebbing, 1888
- Stephensen, 1944
- Mayer, 1890
- Carausu, 1941
- Kaim-Malka, 1983
- Arimoto, 1978
- Arimoto, 1981
- Arimoto, 1978
- Arimoto, 1980
- Stephensen, 1940
- Mayer, 1903
- Mayer, 1903
- Dana, 1853
- Stephensen, 1944
- Stebbing, 1888
- Laubitz & Mills, 1972
- Arimoto, 1977
- Mayer, 1890
- Mayer, 1890
- Laubitz, 1970
- Mayer, 1890
- Guerra-García, 2001
- Thorina Stephensen, 1944
- Mayer, 1903
- Mayer, 1903
- Mayer, 1903
- Arimoto, 1970
- Mayer, 1890
- Guerra-García & Takeuchi, 2003
- Laubitz, 1995
Paracercopinae
- Krøyer, 1843
- Vassilenko, 1972
- Vassilenko, 1972
Phtisicinae
- Schellenberg, 1926
- Thomson, 1879
- Caprellinoides Stebbing, 1888
- Griffiths, 1974
- Stebbing, 1883
- K. H. Barnard, 1931
- McCain, 1968
- Mayer, 1882
- Guerra-García, 2006
- Mayer, 1912
- Guerra-García, 2006
- Mayer, 1903
- Mayer, 1903
- Paraproto Mayer, 1903
- Dougherty & Steinberg, 1953
- Slabber, 1769
- Mayer, 1903
- Mayer, 1903
- Mayer, 1903
- Mayer, 1903
- Sundara Raj, 1927
- McCain & Gray, 1971
- Guerra-García, 2006
- Mayer, 1903
- McCain, 1969
- Hirayama, 1988
- Laubitz, 1995
- Laubitz, 1995
References
- C. De Broyer, M. Costello & D. Bellan-Santini (2010). "Caprellidae". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
- "Caprellidae | Caprellids". Archived from the original on 2013-05-04. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
- Gail V. Ashton. "Caprella mutica Schurin, 1935". Caprellids, LifeDesks. Archived from the original on January 4, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
- Judith Oakley (2006). "Japanese skeleton shrimp - Caprella macho". Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme. Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
- "Caprella mutica Schurin, 1935 – Japanese skeleton shrimp". NOBANIS: European Network on Invasive Alien Species. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
- Encarta Reference Library Premium 2005 DVD. Article - Skeleton Shrimp
- Eugene N. Kozloff (1983). "Sessile Jellyfish". Seashore Life of the Northern Pacific Coast. University of Washington Press. ISBN 0-295-96030-2.
- Edsel A. Caine (1991). "Caprellid amphipods: fast food for the reproductively active". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 148 (1): 27–33. doi:10.1016/0022-0981(91)90144-L.
- Kevin Mwenda (2005). "Caprella laeviuscula". The Race Rocks Taxonomy. Lester B. Pearson College. Archived from the original on 2012-06-06. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
- Jennifer Telnack. "Caprella laeviuscula: the smooth skeleton shrimp". Intertidal Marine Invertebrates of the South Puget Sound. Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
External links
![image]()
Media related to Caprellidae at Wikimedia Commons![image]()
Data related to Caprellidae at Wikispecies- Some information on Caprella bathytatos
- Photos of skeleton shrimp
Caprellidae is a family of amphipods commonly known as skeleton shrimps Their common name denotes the threadlike slender body which allows them to virtually disappear among the fine filaments of seaweed hydroids and bryozoans They are sometimes also known as ghost shrimps CaprellidaePariambus typicusScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass MalacostracaOrder AmphipodaSuborder SenticaudataInfraorder CorophiidaParvorder CaprellidiraSuperfamily CaprelloideaFamily Caprellidae Leach 1814SynonymsAeginellidae Leach 1814 Phtisicidae Vassilenko 1968 Phtisicoidea Vassilenko 1968 Protellidae McCain 1970 Pariambidae Laubitz 1993DescriptionAnatomy of a generalized caprellid female Caprellids are easily recognizable from other amphipods because of their slender elongated bodies Their bodies can be divided into three parts the cephalon head the pereon thorax and the abdomen The pereon comprises most of the length of the body It is divided into seven segments known as pereonites The cephalon is usually fused to the first pereonite while the highly reduced and almost invisible abdomen is attached to the posterior of the seventh pereonite They possess two pairs of antennae with the first pair usually longer than the second pair The cephalon contains mandibles maxillae and maxillipeds which function as mouthparts Each pereonite has a pair of appendages known as pereopods The first two pairs are modified into raptorial appendages known as gnathopods These are used for feeding and defense as well as locomotion The third and fourth pair of pereopods are usually reduced or absent altogether In the third and fourth pereonites are two pairs of gills Sometimes a third pair of gills may also be present on the second pereonite In mature females brood pouches formed by extensions of the coxae oostegites are present on the third and fourth pereonites The fifth to seventh pair of pereopods are smaller than the gnathopods and are used for clasping objects the animals anchor themselves upon Most caprellids are highly sexually dimorphic with the males usually being far larger than the females EcologyAnatomy of male Caprella mutica Caprellids are exclusively marine and are found in oceans worldwide A few species are found in the ocean depths but most prefer low intertidal zones and subtidal waters among eelgrass hydroids and bryozoans They are typically seen attached to substrate by their grasping appendages called the pereopods Caprellids are omnivorous feeding on diatoms detritus protozoans smaller amphipods and crustacean larvae Some species are filter feeders using their antennae to filter food from the water or scrape it off the substrate Most species are predators that sit and wait like a praying mantis with their gnathopods ready to snatch any smaller invertebrates which come along They accentuate their adaptive form and colouration by assuming an angular pose resembling that of the fronds among which they live They remain motionless for long periods of time while waiting to ambush their prey often protozoa or small worms Caprellids are typically preyed upon by surf perch shrimp nudibranchs such as the lion nudibranch Melibe leonina and brooding anemones Epiactis prolifera Since they often inhabit eelgrass beds with sessile jellyfish Haliclystus and the caprellids frequently become jellyfish food Caprellids are not normally considered a main source of food for fish but when shiner perch Cymatogaster aggregata migrate into the eelgrass beds for reproduction they target caprellids Reproduction and growthMating can only occur when the female is between the new and hardened exoskeletons which both male and female molt in order to grow After mating the female will brood the fertilized eggs within her brood pouch The young will hatch and emerge as juvenile adults After mating the female in some species have been known to kill the males by injecting venom from a claw within their gnathopod TaxonomyCaprellidae is classified under the superfamily Caprelloidea which belongs to the infraorder Caprellida of the suborder Corophiidea Caprellidae contains 1345 genera in three subfamilies Caprellinae McCain 1966 Mayer 1903 Aeginella Boeck 1861 Arimoto 1970 Aeginina Norman 1905 Caprella Lamarck 1801 Guerra Garcia 2003 Ortiz et al 2009 Mayer 1890 K H Barnard 1957 Mayer 1890 Heterocaprella Arimoto 1976 Arimoto 1978 Laubitz 1995 Mayer 1890 Huntsman 1915 Mayer 1903 Mayer 1890 Mayer 1903 Mayer 1903 Mayer 1903 Mayer 1890 Mayer 1890 Hirayama 1990 Mayer 1903 Pariambus Stebbing 1888 Stephensen 1944 Mayer 1890 Carausu 1941 Kaim Malka 1983 Arimoto 1978 Arimoto 1981 Arimoto 1978 Arimoto 1980 Stephensen 1940 Mayer 1903 Mayer 1903 Dana 1853 Stephensen 1944 Stebbing 1888 Laubitz amp Mills 1972 Arimoto 1977 Mayer 1890 Mayer 1890 Laubitz 1970 Mayer 1890 Guerra Garcia 2001 Thorina Stephensen 1944 Mayer 1903 Mayer 1903 Mayer 1903 Arimoto 1970 Mayer 1890 Guerra Garcia amp Takeuchi 2003 Laubitz 1995 Paracercopinae Kroyer 1843 Vassilenko 1972 Vassilenko 1972 Phtisicinae Schellenberg 1926 Thomson 1879 Caprellinoides Stebbing 1888 Griffiths 1974 Stebbing 1883 K H Barnard 1931 McCain 1968 Mayer 1882 Guerra Garcia 2006 Mayer 1912 Guerra Garcia 2006 Mayer 1903 Mayer 1903 Paraproto Mayer 1903 Dougherty amp Steinberg 1953 Slabber 1769 Mayer 1903 Mayer 1903 Mayer 1903 Mayer 1903 Sundara Raj 1927 McCain amp Gray 1971 Guerra Garcia 2006 Mayer 1903 McCain 1969 Hirayama 1988 Laubitz 1995 Laubitz 1995ReferencesC De Broyer M Costello amp D Bellan Santini 2010 Caprellidae World Register of Marine Species Retrieved March 26 2010 Caprellidae Caprellids Archived from the original on 2013 05 04 Retrieved 2013 04 09 Gail V Ashton Caprella mutica Schurin 1935 Caprellids LifeDesks Archived from the original on January 4 2015 Retrieved February 1 2012 Judith Oakley 2006 Japanese skeleton shrimp Caprella macho Marine Life Information Network Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub programme Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom Retrieved February 2 2012 Caprella mutica Schurin 1935 Japanese skeleton shrimp NOBANIS European Network on Invasive Alien Species Retrieved February 2 2012 Encarta Reference Library Premium 2005 DVD Article Skeleton Shrimp Eugene N Kozloff 1983 Sessile Jellyfish Seashore Life of the Northern Pacific Coast University of Washington Press ISBN 0 295 96030 2 Edsel A Caine 1991 Caprellid amphipods fast food for the reproductively active Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 148 1 27 33 doi 10 1016 0022 0981 91 90144 L Kevin Mwenda 2005 Caprella laeviuscula The Race Rocks Taxonomy Lester B Pearson College Archived from the original on 2012 06 06 Retrieved 2012 02 03 Jennifer Telnack Caprella laeviuscula the smooth skeleton shrimp Intertidal Marine Invertebrates of the South Puget Sound Archived from the original on May 16 2011 Retrieved June 2 2010 External linksCrustaceans portalArthropods portalMedia related to Caprellidae at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Caprellidae at Wikispecies Some information on Caprella bathytatos Photos of skeleton shrimp
