Common Grass Shrimp
Palaemonetes pugio
Physical: Grass shrimp are commonly two colors; bright green or dark brown. Their abdomen is bent at a sharp angle, and maximum size is less then 1 inch. Females are usually larger than males.
Habitat: H. species live in eelgrass beds and on submerged algae. They range from New Jersey to the Gulf of Mexico.
Feeding: Grass shrimp are omnivorous scavengers, and feed primarily on small bits of vegetation as well as amphipods and other macro invertebrates.
Breeding: Fertilization is internal. The female then releases the eggs over an area on the bay floor. By spreading the eggs, it increases chances for successful hatching.
