Alpheoidea
Guides
Hippolytidae
broken-back shrimp, cleaner shrimp, anemone shrimp, hump-backed shrimps
Hippolytidae is a family of marine caridean shrimp commonly known as broken-back shrimp, cleaner shrimp, or anemone shrimp. The family was redefined in 2023, with several former genera transferred to other families (Bythocariidae, Lysmatidae, Merguiidae, Thoridae), leaving 16 genera in Hippolytidae sensu stricto. Some members engage in cleaning symbiosis with fish, removing parasites and debris from host bodies. The family shows both diurnal and nocturnal activity patterns, with behavioral differences in cleaning site preferences.