Heptacarpus stylusÊ

The Stiletto Shrimp

Phylum Arthropoda
Subphylum Crustacea
Class Malacostraca
Subclass Eumalacostraca
Order Decapoda
Suborder Pleocymata
Infraorder Caridea
Family Hippolytidae
Genus Heptacarpus
Species stylus

Description: A broken back shrimp 2 to 3 cm in length; can be green, brown, olive or reddish brown in color and are translucent; carapace and abdomen scattered with blue dots; often have opaque white markings or dark streaks on thorax; sharp bend in the third abdominal segment; slender body long rostrum.

Habitat: Found under and around seaweed.

Natural History: The name Òbroken backÓ comes from the bend in the abdomen behind the legs. It moves backwards by flexing its tail forwards. Its diet consists of copepods and amphipods.