| Hippolyte varians | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Caridea |
| Family: | Hippolytidae |
| Genus: | Hippolyte |
| Species: | H. varians |
| Binomial name | |
| Hippolyte varians Leach, 1814 | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
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Hippolyte varians, also called the chameleon shrimp, is a species of broken-backed shrimp in the family Hippolytidae.
A prawn/shrimp of up to 3 cm (1.2 in) in length, appearing in many different colours: red, yellow, brown, green, transparent or blue. [1] The colour can adapt to surroundings. During the night it usually becomes bluish-green. [2] The common name "chameleon shrimp" and specific name varians ("varying, fluctuating") both refer to this colour change. [3] It sometimes matches the seaweed on which it feeds, such as the green Ulva lactuca or the red Palmaria palmata . [4]
The short carapace has a single spine. [5] There is also a spine above each eye, and the telson has two pairs of lateral spines. [1]
Hippolyte varians is found in waters as deep as 150 m (490 ft) throughout the eastern Atlantic. [2] [6]
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