Caprellid sp. ghost shrimp?

I was photographing some Periclimenes imperator shrimp on a sea cucumber in the Solomon Islands last month, and saw a little piece of... string waving back and forth. Upon closer inspection I discovered that it was a ghost shrimp! The Debelius book doesn't identify any of them by species (other than to say Caprellid sp. Any ideas on sources of info on these guys?

http://echeng.com/gallery/photo.php?photo=...46&exhibition=4

One of my favorite groups even if they're not worms! Unfortunately, no specimen = no reliable id. Even some of my best microscope shots with good DOF & showing every last spine only get tentative names from experts. I don't think yours can be taken past Caprellidae but I'll past it on to some pod guys to be sure. Did you notice that the caprellid seems to be attached to a brittle star arm rather than the cuke?

Leslie

Hi Eric -- Our caprellid guy, Todd Haney, said the picture has enough detail to eliminate several genera but not enough to actually figure out what genus it does belongs to. The smaller the specimen is = the more we need specimens to do ids. Sorry.

Leslie

Can I just say that it's really cool to have a "Caprellid guy"

Cool stuff, Eric!

Leslie - Is this creature related to what is commonly called a Sea Spider? Reason I ask is because I've got a picture of a little critter that's kinda similar to what Eric photographed but I've never been able to find an ID for it either.

IMAGE REMOVED

BTW Eric, I found this little guy at our super secret muck place here in Florida.

Cool, Laz! There's a whole section on Pycnogonids in the Debelius Crustacea Guide of the World book. Pretty cool little critters!!

Yup, another one of those never to be identified pycnogonids. Looks like a different species than the one you posted earlier. Just think of how many critters you could have named after you if only you'd collect a few! :wink:

Cheers, Leslie

Eric -- Isn't it funny how some of the neatest creatures we've found looked first like a piece of trash in the water? LOL! Thanks for the info on the book. I'll definitely have to get a copy.

Leslie -- What if that's the last pair of species left on the planet? I wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing that I was responsible for the extinction of a species. I can do without fame. I'll show you where I found it if you're ever in south Florida but you gotta promise me you'll put him/her back.

The last pair on earth? Maybe if you were on the last bit of coral in existence but not on a healthy reef, thank goodness. And thanks for the offer but I don't think we could ever get in the water together - I'd be stealing your models as soon as you were done with them & you'd be emptying my collecting bags while I was doing it!

L