Calliapagurops charcoti is a species of mud shrimp from Macaronesia. It is the only mud shrimp known from Madeira, and is the only species of mud shrimp thought to be a filter feeder.

Description

Calliapagurops charcoti has a total length of around 77 millimetres (3.0 in), and a carapace length of 15–18 millimetres (0.6–0.7 in).^[2] Its body is white, sometimes with bands of reddish brown.^[2] The flagella of the antennae bear long setae (hairs). The animal spreads these like a fan, from the entrance to its burrow, and probably uses them for filter feeding.^[2] No other mud shrimp is known to be a filter feeder in this way.^[2]

History and distribution

Calliapagurops charcoti was first found in 1973 off the coast of Flores in the Azores at a depth of 190–230 metres (620–750 ft). In 2010, it was found off the island of Madeira, at a depth of 20 m (66 ft), making it the only mud shrimp yet known from Madeira.^[2] This is one of the largest depth ranges of any mud shrimp.^[2] The only other species in the genus, C. foresti, was described from the Philippines in 2002.^[2]

References