Japanese skeleton shrimp
Caprella mutica
Overview
Photo credit: ©Simon Blauenfeldt Leonhard Orbicon and Vattenfall A/S
Caprella mutica - Japanese skeleton shrimp
Description
Origin and Worldwide Distribution
Potential or Known Impacts
How did it get here?
Is it found in Northern Ireland
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Methods for Prevention
Caprella mutica - Japanese skeleton shrimp
Description
- C. mutica is a pale brown to dark red colour, with males reaching lengths of 50mm and females reaching 29mm. The females also have dark red spots on their brood pouches.
- The body has seven pereonites (segments); in the male, the first two are elongated. The third to seventh pereonites have dorsal and lateral spines.
- They are associated with macroalgae in their native range, and man-made habitats outside their native range.
Origin and Worldwide Distribution
- It is native to Japan.
- It is now found in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and New Zealand.
Potential or Known Impacts
- It is an aggressive species and will likely displace other native amphipod species by competition for food, shelter and other resources. It also has a high reproductive potential, which means that it can quickly colonise a new habitat.
How did it get here?
- It may have arrived by hull fouling, contaminated ballast water, or floating debris.
Is it found in Northern Ireland
- It is now found in Northern Ireland.
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Methods for Prevention
- Ensure that it is not intentionally moved from an invaded area to a non-invaded one.
- Ensure that equipment is checked, cleaned and dried before using in another body of water.
- Report all sightings.