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Phylum Arthropoda > Subphylum Crustacea > Class Malacostraca > Order Decapoda > prawns and shrimps > Family Alpheidae
Ornamented snapping shrimp
Alpheus sp.*
Family Alpheidae
updated Dec 2019
Where seen? This prettily patterned snapping shrimp with flat pincers is sometimes seen on some of our shores, in sandy areas near seagrasses and among coral rubble. It is more active at night. During the day, most remain hidden in their burrows.

Features: 4-6cm.The enlarged pincer is long, narrow and flattened often with pink tips. The other pincer is also long and flattened with narrow fingers fringed with hairs. Some of these shrimps can be quite colourful with intricately patterned bodies which are rather hairy. Some have a lighter coloured band where the abdomen joins the body and a light spot near the tail.

Several different species of snapping shrimps might have this appearance.

Pulau Hantu, Mar 07


Pulau Hantu, Nov 09

West Coast Park, Jun 02


Changi, Jul 02

East Coast Park, Nov 08

*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination of small features.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display

Ornamented snapping shrimps on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores


Pasir Ris, Aug 20
Photo shared by Vincent Choo on facebook.

Pasir Ris, Sep 20
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook.


Pulau Ubin, Jul 17
Photo shared by Abel Yeo on facebook.


Beting Bronok, May 09
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr.

Labrador, Feb 08
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr.

Changi, Apr 15
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr.


Sentosa, Mar 11
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.

Berlayar Creek, Oct 17
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on facebook.


Lazarus, Feb 19
Photo shared by Jianlin Liu on facebook.


Cyrene, Jun 20
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook.


Cyrene, Aug 20
Photo shared by James Koh on facebook.

Pulau Semakau South, Oct 20
Photo shared by Vincent Choo on facebook.


Terumbu Pempang Laut, Jun 14
Photo shared by Russel Low on facebook.

Beting Bemban Besar, Apr 10
Photo shared by Toh Chay Hoon on her blog.

Pulau Berkas, May 10
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his flickr.
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