Bentheogennema burkenroadi Krygier & Wasmer 1975

How to Distinguish from Similar Species: Bentheogennema borealis has a median ridge dorsally on its carapace which interrupts the transverse carinae, + the telson has 2 pairs of stout median spines.

Bathypelagic

Geographical Range: Northeastern Pacific ocean

Depth Range: Bathypelagic

As a Penaeid and thus not a true shrimp, the epimera of the second abdominal segment of this animal do not overlap the epimera of segments 1 and 2. Unlike Caridean shrimp and crabs, Dendrobranchiate crustaceans have gills which are tree-like in structure. As a member of family Penaeidae, this shrimp is distinguished from family Sergestidae by having chelae on all 3 of its first 3 pairs of pereopods. Also, members of family Penaeidae almost always have a well-developed rostrum while the rostrum of sergestids is usually very small. The most obvious distinguishing features of Bentheogennema shrimp to me on first glance is that they have long setae fringing their first antennae and antennal scales, making them appear to have a long moustache; plus they have large pereopods and maxillipeds which are colored very dark red, which they hold bunched together under their body in a dark mass. Bentheogennema burkenroadi has curved, vertical transverse grooves on the dorsal carapace which cross the median ridge but are not interrupted by it. The distinctive rostrum has a line of forward-pointed setae from the dorsal spine to the front. The telson has only 1 pair of stout median spines on its truncate tip.