Species group · Malacostracans
Shrimps
WAnimals has 8 species of shrimp, spread across 8 families (Alpheidae, Atyidae, Caprellidae, Hippolytidae, Mysidae, Odontodactylidae, Pandalidae, Sicyoniidae).
- 8 species
- 8 families
- 100 countries
- 89 parks
- Length
- 1 cm – 18 cm
- Lifespan
- 6 – 8 years
Ranges calculated from the entries that record the figure, not from all 8.
All 8 species of shrimps on WAnimals
Each one has its own full entry. This group does not replace them: it brings them together.
Peacock Mantis Shrimp
Odontodactylus scyllarus
Ghost Shrimp
Caprella linearis
Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Northern Shrimp
Pandalus borealis
Tiger Pistol Shrimp
Alpheus bellulus
Opossum Shrimp
Mysis relicta
Camacuto Shrimp
Atya scabra
Brown Rock Shrimp
Sicyonia brevirostris
Conservation status
No species documented in this group is genuinely at risk according to the IUCN, with the data available today.
See the global conservation statusWhere they live
Recorded in 100 countries. The ones with the most species in the group:
Where to see them
- Aldabra3 species
- Amami Gunto3 species
- Ao Phang Nga3 species
- Archipielago de Bazaruto3 species
- Arrecifes de Tubbataha3 species
- Bali Barat3 species
- Bunaken3 species
- Cape Range3 species
- Con Dao3 species
- East Rennell3 species
- Fakarava3 species
- Gebel Elba3 species
- Abu Dabab (dugongos)diving
- Abu Nuhas (Ghiannis D)diving
- Agincourt Reefsdiving
- Aitutakidiving
- Aldabra Atolldiving
- Alor Archipelagodiving
Did you know…
It strikes with its front limbs so fast that it creates cavitation bubbles, whose collapse gives off a momentary flash of light and heat.
Its eyes, mounted on independently mobile stalks, have between twelve and sixteen types of photoreceptor, against three in the human eye, and detect polarised and ultraviolet light.
The collapse of the bubble delivers a second impact that reaches the prey even if the first blow misses.
Its twig-like outline and its habit of swaying with the current camouflage it completely among the hydroids where it lives.
From Ghost Shrimp
The females carry their eggs in a ventral pouch and look after the young for the first few days.
From Ghost Shrimp
It is called a skeleton shrimp for its thread-like, almost transparent body: it grips the substrate with its hind legs and stands upright, swaying in the current like a twig.
From Ghost Shrimp
It sets up cleaning stations on the reef where larger fish come of their own accord to have parasites and dead skin picked off.
It sets up cleaning stations where it picks parasites out of fishes' mouths.