Hippolytidae

Family: Hippolytidae

Group: Marine Invertebrate, Species

Scientific Name	Common Name	Summary
Eualus fabricii	Arctic eualid	The Arctic eualid is a common subtidal species. They are easily confused with Short-scaled eualid (Eualus suckleyi) and Townsend's eualid (Eualus townsendi), but differ in lacking spines on the forward half of the rostrum.
Eualus pusiolus	Doll eualid	This small (under one inch in total length) shrimp is common in subtidal areas and can be found on a wide variety of habitats. Unlike most species of Eualus found in our region, the doll eualid has a short rostrum that is just about as long as the eyes. A very similar species, the Eualus butleri has two or three spines at the distal end of the merus of the first walking leg while the doll eualid only has a single spine. Color in life is variable, usually transparent with red spots, stripes, or other markings.
Eualus suckleyi	Short-scaled eualid	The short-scaled eualid is a subtidal species that is most often seen on soft bottoms, often associated with the Cribinopsis fernaldi. A gregarious species, these are often found in groups of ten or more. Generally larger than our other common species of Eualus, the short-scaled eualid commonly reaches 3" in total length. Also distinctive is the long rostrum and the color pattern of fine red stripes on the abdomen and yellow and red banded legs.
Eualus townsendi	Townsend's eualid	This species is a common subtidal species found on a variety of habitats. Very similar to Short-scaled eualid (Eualus suckleyi), Townsend's eualid is slightly more slender, and has red markings on the abdomen less regular (more "blotchy") than the stripes of E. suckleyi. Like all members of the genus Eualus, this species has a well-developed exopod on maxilliped three and lack supraorbital spines.
Heptacarpus brevirostris	Stout coastal shrimp	The stout coastal shrimp is an abundant species in tidepools, on docks and pilings, and under rocks in the mid to upper intertidal zone as well as in the shallow subtidal. The very short rostrum is distinct, as is the large robust maxilliped 3 (especially in mature males). Unlike other local shrimps with a short rostrum, this species has epipods on the first 3 walking legs.
Heptacarpus carinatus	Small-eyed coastal shrimp	The small-eyed coastal shrimp is a common resident of eelgrass beds. The color in life is commonly green with a white stripe on rostrum. These may resemble the stiletto shrimp, but can be distinguished by the relatively smaller eyes and presence of a strong dorsal hook on abdominal segment three. Small specimens are easily confused with Hippolyte clarki, but the small-eyed coastal shrimp has the carpus of the first walking leg divided into 7 segments rather than three as in Hippolyte clarki.
Heptacarpus paludicola	California coastal shrimp	Sometimes abundant in mid-intertidal to subtidal rocky areas, the California coastal shrimp may prove to be an ecological variant of the Sitka shrimp (Heptacarpus sitchensis). The two species are very similar, with the main difference being the presence of epipods on the first two walking legs rather than on just the first as in Sitka shrimp (Heptacarpus sitchensis). Work remains to determine if this characteristic is fixed or variable in these species.
Heptacarpus pugettensis	Barred shrimp	The barred shrimp is a common but easily missed species in low intertidal rocky areas. The species is unusual in that it will cling to the undersides of rocks when you turn them over. Similar in appearance to very small Stout coastal shrimp (Heptacarpus brevirostris) but differs from that species in having strong banded patterns and by having epipods only on the first and second walking legs.
Heptacarpus sitchensis	Sitka shrimp	The Sitka shrimp is a common intertidal species found in a variety of habitats. Variable in color, the common eelgrass form usually has a bright green abdomen. Specimens found in rocky areas are mainly transparent. One feature that is very common in all color forms are the fine, diagonal stripes on the sides of the carapace. Heptacarpus sitchensis is similar to and may be synonymous with California coastal shrimp (Heptacarpus paludicola) but differs from that species in having epipods only of the first walking leg rather than the first two. See notes under California coastal shrimp (Heptacarpus paludicola). One interesting feature of the Sitka shrimp is that it has a relatively high rate of infection by the abdominal parasite Hemiarthrus abdominalis. This isopod infects a wide variety of hippolytid shrimps, but is uncommon except for on H. sitchensis which may exhibit a 20% infection rate or higher.
Heptacarpus stylus	Stiletto shrimp	The stiletto shrimp is variable in color, but can be identified identified by the long rostrum topped by a white stripe, and the little electric blue dots on its back. It is often found in kelp, but can be found in a wide range of habitats.
Hippolyte clarki	Kelp humpback shrimp	The kelp humpback or eelgrass shrimp is an abundant species found in a variety of habitats. Variable in color, it typically matches the color of the substrate. Specimens found in eelgrass are usually bright green or transparent. Specimens found in the kelp canopy tend to be yellow brown. Easily confused with other hippolytid shrimps, this species is distinct in being our only species that has the carpus ("wrist") of the second walking leg divided into three flexible segments, all other local hippolytids have the carpus divided into seven segments. This species is the only local species that possess both a branchiostegal and a supraorbital spine. Males of this species are half the size of females (or smaller) and are unique in possessing a third walking leg that may be 2/3 the length of the entire body and bearing grasping structures at the end. The specific function of this structure is unknown.
Lebbeus groenlandicus	Spiny lebbeid	The spiny lebbeid is a spectacular and large representative of the family Hippolytidae. These shrimps may exceed four inches in length and are sometimes sold in mixed lots with small pandalid shrimps off of fishing boats. Commonly bright colored, the abundant sharp spines make it stand out. Like many shrimp species, L. groenlandicus will adopt the cataleptic posture when disturbed, which serves to make these shrimps a very spiny mouthful for a predatory fish. This posture involves bending the abdomen backwards over the head, and locking in this position with special structures on the second abdominal segment. Note: A similar but tiny species, Lebbeus catalepsis (less than one inch in total length) has not been recorded from Alaska but is likely to occur. This species may be found among algae in the low intertidal of high-surf rocky beaches. Any specimens found should be retained if possible!
Lebbeus mundus	Cleaner lebbeid	As the name suggests, the cleaner lebbeid is one of those fascinating species that will climb on, and even into the mouth of, large predatory fish that will sit and allow the shrimp to remove dead skin, parasites, etc. from their bodies. Until reported by Gregory Jensen at the University of Washington, this behavior was unknown in North Pacific waters (but common with many fish and shrimp species in the tropics).
Spirontocaris arcuata	Rathbun's bladed shrimp	Rathbun's bladed shrimp is a common low intertidal and shallow subtidal species. These are commonly found in rocky habitats with small cobble and shell substrates. Like all members of the genus Spirontocaris, this species has two supraorbital spines and a relatively deep and prominent rostrum. This species is similar in appearance and habitat to the Spirontocaris ochotensis. The easiest way to seperate the two species is by looking at the rostrum. The rostrum of S. arcuata extends forward-most below the midrib of the rostrum. Also, the dorsal spines on the carapace of S. arcuata extend back past the halfway point of the carapace, rather than just to the middle as in S. ochotensis