Caprella cf. acanthifera - A caprellid amphipod or skeleton shrimp (Amphipod images)

Specimen above found at Trevaunance Cove, near St. Agnes, Cornwall. 22.09.13. Note the specimen has few hairs, small gnathopod 2s and also a short neck.

Skeleton shrimp
Caprella cf. acanthifera
- female dorsal view 1

Skeleton shrimp
Caprella cf. acanthifera
- brood chamber of female 1

Skeleton shrimp
Caprella cf. acanthifera
- egg / 0.1mm division rule 1

Female specimen above found in a deep middleshore pool on Coral Weed at Battery Rocks, Penzance, Cornwall. 02.04.17.

Skeleton shrimp
Caprella cf. acanthifera
- white / lateral view 1

Skeleton shrimp
Caprella cf. acanthifera
- white / laterial anterior 1

Skeleton shrimp
Caprella cf. acanthifera
- white / gnathopod 2 -1

Skeleton shrimp
Caprella cf. acanthifera
- red / dorsal view 1

Skeleton shrimp
Caprella cf. acanthifera
- dorsal view spine pair 1

Skeleton shrimp
Caprella cf. acanthifera
- red / gnathopod 2 -1

The two specimens above, which are clearly different, were found at Battery Rocks, Penzance, Cornwall, 23.06.17.

I asked Dr. José Manuel Guerra García of the Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain, who is a specialist in this field, about the two specimens displayed here. Dr. Guerra García kindly informed me that Caprella acanthifera was a complex and that specimens presented should be regarded as Caprella cf. acanthifera. He also informed me that he is currently involved with molecular studies involving this complex.

It seems to me from this that there is considerable variation within this complex, the common feature though would seem to be the presence of tubercules along the body, but not on the head. Tubercules should not be confused with either larger or small spikes or spines.

Other images of Caprella cf. acanthifera

Skeleton shrimp
Caprella cf. acanthifera
- lateral view 3

Specimen found in bryozoan sample taken from the lowershore on a spit north of Smeaton's Pier, St. Ives, Cornwall. 10.10.14.

APHOTOMARINE supports open source data recording and sharing for the benefit of wildlife, recorders, research, science and education. The project recommends the following websites and works with the following bodies and organisations.

The Marine Biological Association or MBA, based in Plymouth, is one of the world’s longest-running societies dedicated to promoting research into our oceans and the life they support. Since 1884 the MBA has been providing a unified, clear, independent voice on behalf of the marine biological community.It has a growing membership in over 40 countries.

The National Biodiversity Network or NBN is a charity that supports open source data sharing and recording supporting conservation, science and education. "Why do recorders need open source?". Simply because it supports the core values of wildlife recording and the free use of records and data over a very wide network that includes partners like the Natural History Museum.

The taxonomy used here is based on that of the following database, which is also used by the MBA, NHM and the NBN.

The World Register of Marine Species or WoRMS.

APHOTOMARINE

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography
and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters
and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.