Scientific name: Pandalus spp.

Phylum: Arthropoda

Subphylum: Crustacea

Class: Malacostraca

Order: Decapoda

Description: Boreal red shrimp have a pair of large claws and 4 pairs of legs. Boreal red shrimps are pinkish or red (can be quite transparent) shrimps with narrow rostrum, and have abdomens with tail fans. These shrimp can grow up to 5in.

Distribution: Boreal red shrimps are found circumpolar and south to New England. The adults mainly live in sub-tidal down to 30m or more.

Locomotion: Boreal red shrimps primarily move forward by flexion and extension of limbs. When there is an emergency, a “caridoid escape reaction” happens as an escape strategy. By rapidly contracting muscles in the abdomen region, northern shrimps shoot quickly backward, with tail fan providing a large propulsive surface.

Food gathering: Northern shrimps are predatory. They grasp preys with enlarged front claws followed by tearing, grinding or shearing with various mouth parts. They feed on annelids, small crustaceans like copepods, phytoplankton and detritus.

Gas exchange: Northern shrimps have gills under the carapace, which bear a series of unbranched tubular filaments.

Reproduction: The sexes are separated, with eggs being fertilized internally. Females carry eggs on the abdomen. Their hatchlings are spiny and planktonic larvae are known as zoea.

Interesting facts: Northern shrimps are delicious eating, and are fished using trawlers.

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