Palaemonid
Guides
Palaemon
Glass Shrimps
Palaemon is a genus of caridean shrimp in the family Palaemonidae, commonly known as glass shrimps. The genus is widely distributed across marine, brackish, and freshwater habitats in temperate and tropical regions. Molecular studies suggest the conventional circumscription of Palaemon is likely paraphyletic, with related genera Palaemonetes, Exopalaemon, and Couteriella nested within it. Phylogenetic relationships in this group correspond more closely with geographic origin than with traditional genus-level taxonomy.
Palaemon elegans
rockpool shrimp, rockpool prawn
Palaemon elegans is a small caridean shrimp native to northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean coastal waters. It has expanded its range through human-mediated transport and changing environmental conditions, becoming established in the Baltic Sea, Caspian Sea, and Aral Sea. The species is ecologically similar to several congeners, particularly Palaemon adspersus, with which it competes and has displaced in some regions. Its tolerance of variable salinity has facilitated colonization of brackish environments.