Palaemon vulgaris

Say, 1818

Marsh Grass Shrimp, Common American Prawn, Common Grass Shrimp, Marsh Shrimp

Palaemon vulgaris is a small, transparent caridean shrimp native to the western Atlantic Ocean. reach less than 5 cm in length and display distinctive orange pigmentation on the eyestalks. The has been studied for its specialized swimming mechanics, employing metachronal beating of pleopods and drag-reducing mechanisms during locomotion. It occupies coastal and estuarine from Cape Cod Bay to the Gulf of Mexico.

Palaemon vulgaris by (c) Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Commercial fisheries review (1970) (20658113942) by Internet Archive Book Images. Used under a No restrictions license.

The animal life of our seashore. With special reference to the New Jersey coast and the southern shore of Long Island (1888) (14597271918) by Internet Archive Book Images. Used under a No restrictions license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Palaemon vulgaris: //pæˈliːmən vʌlˈɡærɪs//

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Images

Appearance

are transparent with orange pigmentation on the eyestalks. Body length is less than 5 cm (2.0 in). The transparent body provides camouflage in aquatic environments. Appendages are capable of asymmetric flexibility during swimming.

Distribution

Western Atlantic Ocean from Cape Cod Bay to the Gulf of Mexico.

Behavior

Swims metachronally, creating an appendage wave starting with the pleopod closest to the tail, with all appendages beating with a phase lag. Modulates profile area of appendages to create net thrust. Employs two drag-reducing mechanisms during the return stroke: asymmetric flexibility (appendages rigid during power stroke, flexible during return stroke) and appendage grouping.