Shrimp are decapod crustaceans with elongated bodies and a primarily swimming mode of locomotion – most commonly Caridea and Dendrobranchiata. More narrow definitions may be restricted to Caridea, to smaller species of either group or to only the marine species. Under a broader definition, shrimp may be synonymous with prawn, covering stalk-eyed swimming crustaceans with long narrow muscular tails (abdomens), long whiskers (antennae), and slender legs. Any small crustacean which resembles a shrimp tends to be called one. They swim forward by paddling with swimmerets on the underside of their abdomens, although their escape response is typically repeated flicks with the tail driving them backwards very quickly. Crabs and lobsters have strong walking legs, whereas shrimp have thin, fragile legs which they use primarily for perching. Learn more about Shrimp and prawn
View all family groups for: Marine Invertebrate
Shrimp and Prawn Species Videos
View All Shrimp and Prawn Videos
Common Name | Scientific Name | Conservation Status |
Algae Shrimp (12 videos) | Phycocaris simulans | Not Available |
Anastasia's Crinoid Shrimp (4 videos) | Crinotonia anastasiae | Not Available |
Banded Coral Shrimp (113 videos) | Stenopus hispidus | Not Available |
Banded Snapping Shrimp (5 videos) | Alpheus armillatus | Not Available |
Banded Tozeuma Shrimp (30 videos) | Tozeuma armatum | Not Available |
Blue Boxer Shrimp (2 videos) | Stenopus tenuirostris | Not Available |
Brook's Urchin Shrimp (4 videos) | Allopontonia brockii | Not Available |
Bubble Coral Shrimp (32 videos) | Vir philippinensis | Not Available |
Clear Cleaner Shrimp (19 videos) | Urocaridella antonbruunii | Not Available |
Coleman's Shrimp (41 videos) | Periclimenes colemani | Not Available |
Common Marble Shrimp (2 videos) | Saron marmoratus | Not Available |
Coral Shrimp (143 videos) | Vir orientalis | Not Available |
Dancing Shrimp (34 videos) | Rhynchocinetes durbanensis | Not Available |
Donald Duck Shrimp (8 videos) | Leander plumosus | Not Available |
Dragon Shrimp (2 videos) | Miropandalus hardingi | Not Available |
Emperor Shrimp (51 videos) | Periclimenes imperator | Not Available |
Fire Shrimp (1 videos) | Metapenaeus alcocki | Not Available |
Ghost Boxer Shrimp (9 videos) | Stenopus pyrsonotus | Not Available |
Golden Mantis Shrimp (15 videos) | Lysiosquilla tredecimdentata | Not Available |
Gorgonian Shrimp (11 videos) | Periclimenes patae | Not Available |
Graceful Anemone Shrimp (2 videos) | Ancylomenes venustus | Not Available |
Harlequin Shrimp (160 videos) | Hymenocera picta | Not Available |
Hidden Corallimorph Shrimp (2 videos) | Pliopontonia furtiva | Not Available |
Holthuis Cleaner Shrimp (12 videos) | Ancylomenes holthuisi | Not Available |
Krill (901 videos) | Euphausia superba | Not Available |
Lisa's Mantis Shrimp (6 videos) | Lysiosquillina lisa | Not Available |
Long Arm Prawn (2 videos) | Heteropenaeus longimanus | Not Available |
Magnificent Anemone Shrimp (34 videos) | Ancylomenes magnificus | Not Available |
Mantis Shrimp (405 videos) | Manningia amabilis | Not Available |
Mushroom Coral Shrimp (8 videos) | Cuapetes kororensis | Not Available |
Night Shrimp (1 videos) | Processa processa | Not Available |
Ocean Shrimp (30 videos) | Pandalus jordani | Not Available |
Ocellated Tozeuma Shrimp (5 videos) | Tozeuma lanceolatum | Not Available |
Pacific Clown Anemone Shrimp (16 videos) | Periclimenes brevicarpalis | Not Available |
Papua Shrimp (6 videos) | Metapenaeus papuensis | Not Available |
Peacock Mantis Shrimp (90 videos) | Odontodactylus scyllarus | Not Available |
Pederson Cleaner Shrimp (7 videos) | Ancylomenes pedersoni | Not Available |
Peppermint Shrimp (5 videos) | Lysmata wurdemanni | Not Available |
Pink-eared Mantis Shrimp (43 videos) | Odontodactylus latirostris | Not Available |
Randall's Snapping Shrimp (9 videos) | Alpheus randalli | Not Available |
Red Claw Cuapetes Shrimp (1 videos) | Cuapetes tenuipes | Not Available |
Red Snapping Shrimp (1 videos) | Alpheus bisincisus | Not Available |
Redbacked Cleaner Shrimp (6 videos) | Lysmata grabhami | Not Available |
Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp (17 videos) | Lysmata debelius | Not Available |
Sea Squirt Shrimp (2 videos) | Pontonia californiensis | Not Available |
Sea Star Shrimp (39 videos) | Periclimenes soror | Not Available |
Sidestripe Shrimp (3 videos) | Pandalopsis dispar | Not Available |
Skeleton Shrimp (46 videos) | Caprella spp. | Not Available |
Speckled Shrimp (3 videos) | Metapenaeus monoceros | Not Available |
Spiny Tiger Shrimp (14 videos) | Phyllognathia ceratophthalma | Not Available |
Spot Shrimp (4 videos) | Pandalus platyceros | Not Available |
Spotted Cleaner Shrimp (11 videos) | Periclimenes yucatanicus | Not Available |
Squat Anemone Shrimp (40 videos) | Thor amboinensis | Not Available |
Striped Snapping Shrimp (3 videos) | Alpheus formosus | Not Available |
Translucent Gorgonian Shrimp (7 videos) | Manipontonia psamathe | Not Available |
Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp (9 videos) | Branchinecta lynchi | Not Available |
White-banded Cleaner Shrimp (46 videos) | Lysmata amboinensis | Not Available |
Whitestripe Urchin Shrimp (2 videos) | Stegopontonia commensalis | Not Available |
Yellow Shrimp (36 videos) | Metapenaeus brevicornis | Not Available |
Yellow-speckled Shrimp (31 videos) | Urocaridella urocaridella | Not Available |
Zanzibar Whip Coral Shrimp (1 videos) | Dasycaris zanzibarica | Not Available |
Zebra Mantis Shrimp (14 videos) | Lysiosquillina maculata | Not Available |