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Phylum Arthropoda > Subphylum Crustacea > Class Malacostraca > Order Decapoda > prawns and shrimps > Family Alpheidae
Smooth snapping shrimp
Alpheus sp.*
Family Alpheidae
updated Jan 2020
Where seen? This short and stout snapping shrimp is sometimes seen on many of our shores, in sandy areas near seagrasses and among coral rubble. It is more active at night. During the day, these shrimps usually remain hidden in their burrows.

Features: Body length 4-5cm. The shrimp has a smooth body which is usually plain. The enlarged pincer is flattened but rounded, somewhat like a cartoon drawing of a muscle man. Often the 'finger' of the enlarged pincer is orange.

This shrimp is sometimes seen in a burrow with large brittle stars.

Several different species of snapping shrimps might have this appearance.

Pulau Sekudu, Jun 05


Sharing a burrow with a goby?
Changi, Jun 06

Sharing a burrow with a goby?
Pasir Ris Park, Jun 08

The smaller claw used to carry things.
Labrador, May 02


Pulau Hantu, May 09

Changi, Jul 04

St. John's Island, Sep 09

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

Smooth snapping shrimps on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores



Punggol, Nov 13
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr.



Pulau Ubin, Jun 08
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr.

.

Pulau Ubin, Dec 17
Photo shared by Liz Lim on facebook..



East Coast-Marina Bay, Nov 17
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook.

East Coast Park, Aug 09
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.


Sentosa Serapong, May 16
Photo shared by Dayna Cheah on facebook.

Sentosa Serapong, May 23
Photo shared by Kelvin Yong on facebook.


Big Sisters Island, Sep 20
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook.

Pulau Tekukor, May 10
Photo shared by James Koh on his blog.


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


Terumbu Semakau, Jun 22
Photo shared by Tammy Lim on facebook.

Pulau Semakau (South), Jan 20
Photo shared by Liz Lim on facebook.


Beting Bemban Besar, Aug 18
Photo shared by Richard Kuah on facebook.

Terumbu Bemban, Jul 11
Photo shared by James Koh on his blog.


Terumbu Pempang Tengah, May 11
Photo shared by Ivan Kwan on flickr.


Pulau Senang, Jun 10

Pulau Salu, Apr 21
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on facebook.
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