Abstract
Study of small-sized or taxonomically challenging taxa is mandatory to early detect exotic species. The caprellid Paracaprella pusilla has been successfully spreading in many world areas in the last decade. Biofouling from culture lanterns of bivalves Argopecten purpuratus and Pteria sterna were collected between February 2017 and November 2018 in Samanco Bay and Sechura Bay, Peru. This study represents the first record of P. pusilla in Peru, confirming that the species is expanding towards lower latitudes along the Pacific coast of South America. Paracaprella pusilla was found mainly associated with the bryozoan Bugula neritina and hydrozoan Ectopleura cf. crocea. The present study contributes to the knowledge of the biodiversity of these crustaceans in the Peruvian coast, but it is recommended to increase sampling along the Southeast Pacific.
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