Endemic predatory shrimp  (Procaris ascensionis)

Description

Endemic to just two small rock pools on Ascension Island, this shrimp occupies an extremely vulnerable position (3). The endemic predatory shrimp is partly translucent, with yellow colouration inside the front of its body and red colouration covering fragments of its exterior. Specialised appendages help in the trapping of prey for this ‘more than likely’ blind shrimp (4). All five pereiopods, which are appendages used for moving, feeding and defence, are extended to pull the prey in (4) (5). The victim is then trapped against the shrimp’s underside with the aid of maxillipeds, which are limbs at the front of the body that are modified to act as mouth parts (4) (5). The shrimp has then been observed swimming upside down, trapping its prey within a cage formed by the spiny pereiopods (4).

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