Shrimp (assorted)

Shrimp is a common name, not a single natural group. Wikipedia says it usually refers to decapods of the Caridea or Dendrobranchiata, although some crustaceans outside this order are also called shrimp, and that the terms shrimp and prawn lack scientific standing. This group entry covers sightings where the species was not recorded. The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) lists Caridea as an accepted infraorder and Dendrobranchiata as an accepted suborder.

Wikipedia says many shrimp species are small, about 2 cm long, while some exceed 25 cm. It describes an elongated body, long antennae and thin, fragile legs used mainly for perching.

A conservation status is not given here, because this entry covers a whole group.

Wikipedia says there are thousands of species adapted to a wide range of freshwater and marine habitats, and that they can be found feeding near the seafloor on most coasts and estuaries.

Where Divers Find Them

In Tulamben, Bali, Blue Season Bali names shrimps first among the animals of Seraya Secrets, and Dive Concepts lists "all sortes of shrimps" at Coral Garden.

Wikipedia says shrimp swim forward by paddling the swimmerets under the abdomen, and that their escape response is typically repeated flicks of the tail that drive them backwards very quickly. It says they are often solitary, though they can form large schools during the spawning season.

Underwater Encounter Behavior

The sources cited here do not describe how shrimps react to divers.