Shrimp are some of the world’s most ubiquitous creatures, numbering over 1.4 million known species! They can be found in a wide range of waters across the globe, and serve a variety of purposes. Most shrimp are filter-feeders, and have a high tolerance for toxins they filter in the sea. Cleaner shrimp are popular among other fish species for ridding their bodies of parasites, and often form clusters within reefs to act as cleaner stations. And not leastly, they are a source of food for a large number of species, including humans. Check out some facts on a few of the many species of shrimp.
Bamboo Shrimp
The tiny bamboo shrimp can be found in the waters of southeast Asia, and has become an aquarium hobbyist favorite in the US and UK. It grows to be 2-3 inches in length, and is a consummate filter-feeder, often staying in the same position for hours, filtering its sustenance from the water. Instead of claws, the bamboo shrimp has fans, making it a harmless species to humans and other fish.
Harlequin Shrimp
Harlequin shrimp are a delightful species to observe for their psychedelic markings and tenacious hunting behavior. Found in the Indo-Pacific, this shrimp only grows to be 3 inches in length, and despite its diminutive size, feeds primarily on starfish. Harlequin shrimp work in pairs to overturn a starfish, and then drag it back to their lair, to be eaten one arm at a time. They have even been observed feeding the starfish in order to keep it alive and fresh throughout the process.
Ghost Shrimp
The ghost shrimp is quite aptly named due to its opaque appearance. Growing to a maximum length of two inches, ghost shrimp are omnivorous scavengers, usually engaged in a constant sweep and search for bits of algae, waste, or food scraps from other fish. It is not uncommon for the ghost fish to molt several times while maturing, leaving behind their ghostly exoskeletons.
Crystal Red Shrimp
The crystal red shrimp is a freshwater species, usually found in sub-tropical currents in Asia and Africa. This species is a filter-feeder and a scavenger, showing little bias toward anything floating or resting on the seafloor. They are one of the smallest shrimp species, only growing to be 7.4mm! Several variations of crystal red shrimp have been bred for use in aquariums.
Emperor Shrimp
Also known as the Imperator shrimp, the Emperor shrimp is a species that lives symbiotically with nudibranchs, sea cucumbers, and worms, catching its dinner from the sediment that is disturbed by the host animal moving across the seafloor. It can be found in shallow reefs, lagoons, and bays of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. The Emperor shrimp only grows to be three-quarters of an inch long, and matches its colorations and markings to those if its host for an effective disguise.
