Marine-amphipod
Guides
Caprella mutica
Japanese Skeleton Shrimp
Caprella mutica is a highly invasive caprellid amphipod native to the Sea of Japan. It has spread to temperate coastlines worldwide through maritime shipping and aquaculture, becoming established in the North Atlantic, North Pacific, New Zealand, and most recently South America. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism, with males reaching 50 mm and females averaging 15–20 mm. It is characterized by densely setose first and second pereonites in males and remarkable ecological plasticity, enabling dense populations on artificial structures.