Gnathophyllidae

Dotted Hummelgarnele ( Gnathophyllum elegans)

The bumblebee shrimp ( Gnathophyllidae ) are a family of crustaceans. This family includes four genera, with about 7 species. The bumblebee shrimp live in tropical and subtropical seas.

In German, a freshwater shrimp of the genus Caridina also as Hummelgarnele ( or zebra dwarf shrimp ) is referred to, for more information on these freshwater prawns see Hummelgarnele.

Description

The bumblebee shrimp family includes small, often strikingly marked shrimp. Your stripe or dot pattern to solve the body shape optically and thus contribute to camouflage the animals.

Bumblebee shrimp are similar to Harlequin shrimp also specialize in echinoderms as food. They eat mainly suction feet of sea urchins and starfish.

Bumblebee shrimp be kept in aquariums because of their beautiful coloring, there are but due to their special food claims are not easy to feed. However, some species are soon to replacement feed.

System

• Gnathophylloides Schmitt, 1933 Gnathophylloides mineri Schmitt, 1933

• Gnathophyllum americanum Guérin - Méneville, 1855
• Gnathophyllum circellus Manning, 1963
• Gnathophyllum modestum Hay, 1917
• Gnathophyllum precipuum Titgen, 1989

• Levi Caris mammilata Edmondson, 1931

• Pycnocaris chagoae Bruce, 1972