THE CAPRELLID

Defining physical characteristics of the Caprellid:
Caprellids possess a long, slender thorax and almost no abdomen. Their heads are well defined and have two pair of antennae. They can turn their heads from side to side, making them appear like tiny preying mantises. They have a pair of enlarged grasping, clawed appendages ( walking legs) for grabbing zooplankton as it floats by. Their last 2 pair of appendages are modified for clinging to algae and colonial hydroids such as Obelia They move up the algae or along the substrate like looper caterpillars, step by step.

Habitat: Among algae, and the hydroids attached to the algae, growing under the docks, on pilings, submerged lines, hoses and on rocks along the shoreline.

Niche: Carnivore, feeding on the hydroid colonies to which they cling and on the microorganisms that float by.

Personal Observations: I have noticed the Caprellids living on only one type of algae: the brown algae Desmarestia. With the unaided eye, one can just barely see them perched at the top edge of the obelia colony also growing on the Desmarestia. However, with the aid of a hand lens, their amazingly intelligent looking face, eyes and head movements spring forward. They are very magical little creatures and I have spent many happy hours (though sore-eyed) watching them move like inch-worms up and down the algae, searching for food and feeding. When viewed under the microscope one can see the fine spines or claws on their enlarged gnathopods: food grasping appendages. Their bodies are transparent and one can also see the food particles streaming down their gut. Caprellids are fascinating animals to observe and study. I feel my life is enriched just knowing that they live below my houseboat, clinging to the algae, as the currents and tides rocks them back and forth, as it does me.