Pandalopsis dispar Rathbun, 1902

Common name(s):  Sidestriped shrimp

Synonyms: Pandalopsis dispar
Phylum Arthropoda
Subphylum Crustacea
Class Malacostraca
Subclass Eumalacostraca
Superorder Eucarida
Order Decapoda
Suborder Pleocyemata
Pandalopsis dispar captured at about 70 m depth in San Juan Channel.  Total length (telson to rostrum) 15 cm.
(Photo by: Dave Cowles, July 2008)
Description:   As with all Caridean shrimp, the pleurons (epimera) of the second abdominal segment overlap those of segment 1 and 2 (photo).  As with all members of Family Pandalidae, none of the pereopods have exopodites and the carpus of pereopod 2 is subdivided into several units (multiarticulated, but not more than 7 units), and the rostrum is prominent and has movable dorsal spines. Pandalopsis dispar has very long first antennae (more than twice as long as the carapace + rostrum) (photo), and the distal half of its rostrum has dorsal spines (photo).  Total body length to 20.8 cm.

How to Distinguish from Similar Species: Pandalopsis ampla, a deepwater species, does not have dorsal spines on the distal half of its rostrum.  Members of genus Pandalus such as P. platycerosP. eous, P. hypsinotus, and P. danae have much shorter first antennae.  No other local shrimp has the distinctive pattern of abdominal stripes that this species has (such as the white stripe that goes along the side of the abdomen), though several such as P. hypsinotus and P. danae do have abdominal stripes.

Geographical Range: Pribilof Islands (Arctic Ocean) to Manhattan Beach, Oregon

Depth Range:  45-650 m

Habitat:  Soft bottoms (subtidal)

Biology/Natural History:  This species is fished commercially with bottom trawls, but because it catches mostly midwater shrimp for its own food it is not usually attracted to shrimp pots.  Its large, paddlelike pleopods suggest its ample swimming ability (photo).   This species is sometimes parasitized by the bopyrid isopod Bopyroides hippolytes.



 

References:

Dichotomous Keys:
   Kozloff 1987, 1996
  Wicksten, 2009

General References:
   Butler, 1980
   Lamb and Hanby, 2005
   Jensen, 1995

Scientific Articles:

Web sites:


General Notes and Observations:  Locations, abundances, unusual behaviors:

We only encounter this species on deep trawls such as those with the University of Washington in San Juan Channel.  It is less common there than many of the Pandalus species such as P. platyceros.


Side view
This side view shows the distinctive abdomen stripes, the very long rostrum, and the fact that both the first and second antennae are much longer than the carapace + rostrum.  Note that one of the first antennae is broken.  Also note the large paddle-like pleopods, one pair of which is extended in this photo.  Photo by Dave Cowles July 2008


Abdomen side view
This closeup of the side of the abdomen shows the distinctive stripes, and also the fact that in this shrimp, as in all Caridean shrimp, the pleuron of the second abdominal segment overlaps that of the first and third segment.


Head

The dorsal spines on the carapace are only on the front half of the carapace and the rostrum.


Rostrum
The spines on the rostrum are found nearly out to the end--not just on the basal part.  Note that ventral spines also are found nearly out to the end. 

Dorsal carapace spot
Many if not all individuals of this species seem to have a distinct, dark elongated red sspot on the anterior dorsal carapace, visible especially from above. Photo by Dave Cowles, July 2023




Authors and Editors of Page:
Dave Cowles (2008):  Created original page
CSS coding for page developed by Jonathan Cowles (2007)