Marine Species Identification Portal : Caprella septentrionalis

Krøyer, 1838

Description:
Body usually with numerous spines and tubercles, spination variable. Usually the cephalon is furnished with at least a single spine. Length of largest male 20 mm, largest female 20 mm, smallest ovigerous female 9 mm.
Peduncle of antenna 1 occasionally with dense setules, but often without. Length of antenna 2 longer or shorter than peduncle of antenna 1.
Mouthparts typical of genus, right lacinia mobilis 5-toothed.
Propodus of gnathopod 1 with 2 proximal grasping spines, grasping margin of dactylus and propodus serrate. Palm of propodus of gnathopod 2 with proximal a poison tooth and a small tooth on the inner surface, distally with a small tooth, a notch and a rectangular projection, anterodistal margin occasionally with a projection; basis short and robust. Ratio of total length to the length of the basis of gnathopod 2 usually greater than 13.0.
Gills usually elliptical, occasionally oval and inflated.
Propodus of pereiopods 5-7 with a pair of proximal grasping spines.
Abdomen of male and female typical of genus.

Habitat:
C. septentrionalis does not appear to be specific in its habitat, having been collected from brown, green and red algae, sea grass, sponges, hydroids, alcyonarians and tunicates. It ranges in depth from the surface to 1026 metres.

Distribution:
Murman coast; Novaya Zemlya; White Sea; N. Russia; Norway to France and British Islands; Faeroe Islands; Jan Mayen; Iceland; East and West Greenland; Baffin Bay and Davis Straits; coast of North America from Hudson Bay to Maine.

Caprella septentrionalis