#4469 · 🦀 crabs & other crustaceans

Japanese Skeleton Shrimp

🇳🇱 Machospookkreeft ·Caprella mutica

🦀 Crabs & other crustaceans 📍 in the Netherlands

10 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

1. © Cricket Raspet · CC BY 4.0
2. © amlyne12 · CC BY-NC 4.0
3. © dreed41 · CC BY-NC 4.0
4. © WoRMS for SMEBD · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
5. © dreed41 · CC BY-NC 4.0
6. Den Osse 103, 4318 TP Brouwershaven, Nederland:© Glenn Biscop · CC BY-NC 4.0
7. Den Osse 103, 4318 TP Brouwershaven, Nederland:© Glenn Biscop · CC BY-NC 4.0
8. Goes, NL-ZE, NL:© Frédéric ANDRE · CC BY-NC 4.0
9. Zeeuwse meren, 158_13_400, NL:© Frédéric ANDRE · CC BY-NC 4.0
10. Dreischor - Frans Kokrif:© Adrie Rolloos · CC BY-NC 4.0

what is it?

Caprella mutica , commonly known as the Japanese skeleton shrimp , is a species of skeleton shrimp. 0 in). They are sexually dimorphic, with the males usually being much larger than the females. They are characterized by their "hairy" first and second thoracic segments and the rows of spines on their bodies. Body color ranges from green to red to blue, depending on the environment. They are omnivorous highly...

base stats

NL sightings 34iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 1,323iNaturalist observations

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

Spotted 34 times in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: the #34 most seen of the crabs & other crustaceans in NL.
1,323 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.

fact sheet

English: Japanese Skeleton Shrimp
Nederlands: Machospookkreeft
scientific name: Caprella mutica
class: Malacostraca
order: Amphipoda
family: Caprellidae
sightings in NL: 34
sightings in Europe: 72
sightings worldwide: 1,323
GBIF records in NL: 363
weight: —
length: —
lifespan: —

Sources: iNaturalist taxon 64634, Wikidata Q2140429, GBIF 5178057, Wikipedia (EN), Wikipedia (NL). Intro text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.