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Meet the shrimp
Cleaner shrimp set up stations on reefs where fish line up to have parasites removed. Some shrimp species live in loyal pairs for life.
🏡 Oceans, reefs, rivers and mangroves worldwide.🍽️ Algae, plankton, tiny animals and leftovers on the sea floor.⏳ 1–6 years depending on species.
Friends and family
Snapping shrimp live in colonies with a queen, a bit like bees.
Mother shrimp carry their eggs under their bodies, fanning them with their legs.
How they talk
Pistol shrimp snap a claw so fast it makes a bubble louder than a rock concert.
How clever are they?
Cleaner shrimp remember individual fish clients and treat regulars differently.
What they feel
Scientists concluded in 2021 that shrimp and prawns are likely to be sentient.
Superpower: Sonic snap
The pistol shrimp's claw snap creates a bubble hotter than the sun's surface for an instant.
🤓 Did you know?
- Scientists concluded decapods like shrimp are likely sentient.
- A pistol shrimp's snap is one of the loudest sounds in the sea.
- Cleaner shrimp run 'cleaning stations' fish queue up for.
Living alongside people
Shrimp farming often replaces mangrove forests, which protect coasts from storms.