Family CAPRELLIDAE Leach, 1814

Caprella danilevskii Czerniavskii, 1868

© Copyright J.M. Guerra-Garía © ABRS

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Introduction

Caprellid amphipods are found in all major zoogeographic zones. The world fauna currently comprises about 45 genera (McCain & Steinberg 1970; Takeuchi 1993).

Caprellids are found mainly on algae, seagrasses or bryozoans where they prey on small invertebrates. In turn, they are important prey items for coastal fishes. Some species scrape micro-organisms such as diatoms from the surface of seagrass fronds.

Diagnosis

Body cylindrical. Antenna 2 flagellum shorter than peduncle. Mouthparts well developed. Mandible molar present. Maxilliped outer plates small. Pereopods 3–4 present or absent, 5–7 directed anteriorly or 3–5 greatly reduced, 6–7 directed anteriorly or 3–5 greatly reduced, 6–7 directed posteriorly. Pereopod 3 dactylus well developed or absent. Uropod 2 an undifferentiated lobe or absent.

Species excluded

from limital area: CAPRELLIDAE: Pseudoprotella phasma (Montagu, 1804), see Chilton, C. 1921. Report on the Amphipoda obtained by the F.I.S. Endeavour in Australian seas. Biol. Res. F.I.S. End. 1909–14 5(2): 33–92 (recorded this species), Guiler, E.R. 1952. A list of the Crustacea of Tasmania. Records of the Queen Victoria Museum 3(3): 15–44 (recorded this species), McCain, J.C. & Steinberg, J.E. 1970. Part 2. Amphipoda I Caprellidea I Fam. Caprellidae. pp. 1–78 in Gruner, H.-E & Holthuis, L.B. (eds). Crustaceorum Catalogus. Den Haag : Dr W. Junk N.V. [75] (excluded this species)

General References

Laubitz, D.R. 1993. Caprellidea (Crustacea: Amphipoda): towards a new synthesis. pp. 965-976 in Moore, P.G. & Watling, L. (eds). Amphipods, a noble obsession: essays in memory of J. Laurens Barnard (1928–1991). Journal of Natural History 27(4): 725-988

Leach, W.E. 1814. Crustaceology. pp. 383-437 in Brewster, D. Sir (ed.). The Edinburgh Encyclopaedia. Edinburgh : John Murray Baldwin & Cradocle Vol. 7 (2).

McCain, J.C. & Steinberg, J.E. 1970. Part 2. Amphipoda I Caprellidea I Fam. Caprellidae. pp. 1-78 in Gruner, H.-E & Holthuis, L.B. (eds). Crustaceorum Catalogus. Den Haag : Dr W. Junk N.V.

Takeuchi, I. 1993. Is the Caprellidea a monophyletic group? pp. 947-964 in Moore, P.G. & Watling, L. (eds). Amphipods, a noble obsession: essays in memory of J. Laurens Barnard (1928–1991). Journal of Natural History 27(4): 723-988

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