The Japanese skeleton shrimp (Caprella mutica) is an invasive marine amphipod found in the British Isles, first detected in the early 2000s. Native to the northwest Pacific, it has spread globally through hull fouling and aquaculture activities. This small, highly adaptable crustacean attaches to submerged structures, including seaweed, ropes, and buoys, in coastal and estuarine environments. it competes with native species for resources and space, potentially altering local ecosystems and impacting biodiversity.