Narwhal shrimp (Plesionika narval)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Plesionika narval
- Common name
- Narwhal shrimp
- Category
- Crustaceans
- Family
- Pandalidae
- Genus
- Plesionika
- Size
- 6–14 cm
- Depth
- 30–700 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- cave
- Behaviours
- solitary, schooling
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, East Atlantic, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Macaronesia, Mediterranean
Description
Plesionika narval reaches 14 cm. Deep Mediterranean shrimp (Pandalidae) with pink-red body with very long rigid straight characteristic rostrum that can reach body length (hence narwhal, like unicorn tooth). Black eyes. Lives in dense schools from 30 to 700 m in caves, deep crevices and drop-offs of Mediterranean, sometimes in spectacular aggregations of hundreds to thousands of individuals. Moderate commercial fishery in some Mediterranean countries (Greece, Italy). Iconic wide-angle photo subject of technical dives in deep Mediterranean caves for spectacular pink schools.
Photo of Narwhal shrimp
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Narwhal shrimp?
- Narwhal shrimp (Plesionika narval) reaches 6–14 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Narwhal shrimp?
- Narwhal shrimp is found between 30–700 m deep.
- Is the Narwhal shrimp dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Narwhal shrimp?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Narwhal shrimp?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, East Atlantic, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Macaronesia, Mediterranean.
Similar species
- Palinurus elephas - European spiny lobster
- Clibanarius erythropus - Red-legged hermit crab
- Homarus gammarus - European lobster
- Pachygrapsus marmoratus - Marbled rock crab
- Mithraculus forceps - Red-ridged clinging crab
- Mithrax spinosissimus - Channel clinging crab
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 107662)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 4309688)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia