Live Skeleton Shrimp (Caprella spp.)
Please Note: This is a Live Science Specimen
The Skeleton Shrimp (Caprella spp.) is a slender, ghostly amphipod that resembles a tiny stick insect of the sea. Found clinging to algae, eelgrass, or other invertebrates, these fascinating creatures are highly specialized for their environment—using their grasping appendages to anchor themselves while they sway in the current like bits of drifting seaweed.
Common along the Gulf of Maine’s subtidal zones, Skeleton Shrimp are excellent for studying crustacean anatomy, behavior, and adaptation. Their transparent bodies make them ideal for observing live feeding, movement, and reproductive traits under magnification.
Common name: Skeleton Shrimp
Scientific name: Caprella spp.
Locations: Muddy, subtidal substrate, shallow and deep water
Seasonality: Collected here December–April
Colors: Translucent-white
Size: ½” – 2”
Collected: Dip net
Quantity: Sold by the each
Uses: Excellent for aquariums, live plankton demonstrations, marine invertebrate study, and behavioral observation.
Note: This is a live marine specimen. Natural variations in size, color, and appearance from photos should be expected. If you would like any specimen preserved, please send a request to: info@gulfofme.com.
Live Skeleton Shrimp (Caprella spp.)
Please Note: This is a Live Science Specimen
The Skeleton Shrimp (Caprella spp.) is a slender, ghostly amphipod that resembles a tiny stick insect of the sea. Found clinging to algae, eelgrass, or other invertebrates, these fascinating creatures are highly specialized for their environment—using their grasping appendages to anchor themselves while they sway in the current like bits of drifting seaweed.
Common along the Gulf of Maine’s subtidal zones, Skeleton Shrimp are excellent for studying crustacean anatomy, behavior, and adaptation. Their transparent bodies make them ideal for observing live feeding, movement, and reproductive traits under magnification.
Common name: Skeleton Shrimp
Scientific name: Caprella spp.
Locations: Muddy, subtidal substrate, shallow and deep water
Seasonality: Collected here December–April
Colors: Translucent-white
Size: ½” – 2”
Collected: Dip net
Quantity: Sold by the each
Uses: Excellent for aquariums, live plankton demonstrations, marine invertebrate study, and behavioral observation.
Note: This is a live marine specimen. Natural variations in size, color, and appearance from photos should be expected. If you would like any specimen preserved, please send a request to: info@gulfofme.com.
Skeleton shrimp on green sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca)
Tidepool Tim says, “Caprellidae is a family of amphipods named “skeleton shrimp” for their transparent, slender bodies. You can see their bones through their skin! We find these shrimp embedded in fine filaments of seaweed, hydroids, sponges, and bryozoans. Some species can even change color to camouflage with their background!”
