The morphology of the branchial podocytes in the grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, was
investigated in relation to the molt cycle. The podocytes are located in the efferent
hemolymph channels in the gill axis, and possess a specialized plasmalemma consisting of
interdigitating pedicel processes which are bridged by thin diaphragms. The topography of
the plasmalemmal surface suggests that these cells, like similar cells in other arthropods,
function in the ultrafiltration of micro-and macromolecular substances from the hemolymph …