Neotrypaea californiensis

The Bay Ghost Shrimp

Phylum Arthropoda
Subphylum Crustacea
Class Malacostraca
Subclass Eumalacostraca
Order Decapoda
Suborder Pleocymata
Infraorder Thalassinidae Family Callianassidae
Genus Neotrypaea
Species californiensis

Neotrypaea californiensis The Bay Ghost Shrimp Description: Can reach a size of 10 cm; color is a waxy pale pink and orange; Long and slender; claws are of unequal size; body is poorly calcified.

Habitat: Burrows in sand or mud.

Natural History: It feeds on detritus sifted from the mud and on microorganisms found in the continuous stream of mud that passes through its digestive tract from the process of burrowing tunnels. There are two species of parasitic isopods that are seen underneath this shrimpÕs carapace.