Caprellidae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Caprellidae: /kæˈprɛlɪdiː/

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Summary

Caprellidae, commonly known as skeleton shrimps, are a family of amphipods with elongated bodies that help them camouflage among aquatic vegetation. They are primarily found in marine habitats and showcase sexual dimorphism.

Physical Characteristics

Caprellids have a slender elongated body divided into three parts: the cephalon (head), the pereon (thorax), and the abdomen, which is highly reduced. They possess two pairs of antennae, with the first pair usually longer than the second. Each pereonite has a pair of appendages (pereopods), with the first two pairs modified into raptorial appendages (gnathopods).

Identification Tips

Easily recognizable by their slender and elongated bodies, caprellids have a highly reduced abdomen and a cephalon fused to the first pereonite.

Habitat

Caprellids are exclusively marine and predominantly inhabit low intertidal zones and subtidal waters among eelgrass, hydroids, and bryozoans.

Distribution

Found in oceans worldwide, with some species found in ocean depths and others preferring shallower coastal areas.

Diet

Caprellids are omnivorous, feeding on diatoms, detritus, protozoans, smaller amphipods, and crustacean larvae. Some are filter feeders, while others prey on smaller invertebrates.

Life Cycle

Mating occurs while females are between new and hardened exoskeletons. Females brood fertilized eggs in their brood pouch, and juveniles hatch and emerge as juvenile adults.

Reproduction

After mating, females can brood fertilized eggs within their brood pouch. In some species, females may kill males after mating using venom from a claw within their gnathopod.

Predators

Caprellids are preyed upon by surf perch, shrimp, nudibranchs (e.g., Melibe leonina), brooding anemones (Epiactis prolifera), and occasionally sessile jellyfish.

Ecosystem Role

As omnivores, caprellids play a role in the marine food web, both as prey for various marine species and as predators of smaller invertebrates.

Evolution

Caprellidae belongs to the superfamily Caprelloidea; it contains 1345 genera classified into three subfamilies: Caprellinae, Paracercopinae, and Phtisicinae.

Misconceptions

Not commonly considered a main food source for fish, though they may be consumed during certain fish reproductive migrations.

Tags

• Amphipoda
• Caprellidae
• Skeleton Shrimps
• Marine Biology