The Caridea, commonly known as caridean shrimp or true shrimp, from the Greek word καρίς, καρίδος, are an infraorder of shrimp within the order Decapoda. This infraorder contains all species of true shrimp. They are found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Many other animals with similar names – such as the mud shrimp of Axiidea and the boxer shrimp of Stenopodidea – are not true shrimp, but many have evolved features similar to true shrimp.
The Decapoda or decapods are an order of crustaceans within the class Malacostraca, and includes crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, and prawns. Most decapods are scavengers. The order is estimated to contain nearly 15,000 extant species in around 2,700 genera, with around 3,300 fossil species. Nearly half of these species are crabs, with the shrimp and Anomura including hermit crabs, porcelain crabs, squat lobsters making up the bulk of the remainder. The earliest fossils of the group date to the Devonian.
Physetocaris is a monotypic genus of caridean shrimp, containing a single species, Physetocaris microphthalma.
Gnathopyllum is a genus of shrimp, containing the following species:
Alpheus is a genus of snapping shrimp of the family Alpheidae. This genus contains in excess of 330 species, making this the most species-rich genus of shrimp. Like other snapping shrimp, the claws of Alpheus are asymmetrical, with one of the claws enlarged for making a popping noise. Some species in the genus enter into symbiotic relationships with gobiid fishes, and others associate with sea anemones.
Automate is a genus of pistol shrimp of the family Alpheidae, containing the following species:
Salmoneus is a genus of shrimps of the family Alpheidae. Understanding of the genus has grown rapidly, with only 19 known species before 2000, to 69 species as of 2024.
Palaemon is a genus of caridean shrimp in the family Palaemonidae.
Procaris chacei is a species of shrimp in the family Procarididae. The genus was first described in 1986 by Charles W. Hart Jr. and Raymond Manning.
Typhlatya is a genus of shrimp in the family Atyidae. These are small, stygobitic shrimp found in the West Mediterranean region, Caribbean region, Ascension Island and the Galápagos, although the individual species often have very small ranges. Species in this genus are found in salt, brackish and fresh waters, mostly in anchialine habitats and none in the open sea.
Procaris ascensionis is a species of shrimp, known only from two anchialine pools on Ascension Island; the larger of the two pools is about 4.5 metres (15 ft) in diameter and contains 45 centimetres (18 in) of water.
Raymond Brendan Manning was an American carcinologist, specialising in alpha taxonomy and mantis shrimp.
The Processidae are a family of shrimp, comprising 65 species in five genera, and the only family in the superfamily Processoidea. They are small, nocturnal animals, mostly living in shallow seas, particularly on grass flats. The first pereiopods are usually asymmetrical, with a claw on one, but not the other. The rostrum is generally a simple projection from the front of the carapace, with two teeth, one at the tip, and one further back.
Procarididea is an infraorder of decapods, comprising only eleven species. Six of these are in the genera Procaris and Vetericaris, which together make up the family Procarididae. The remaining five species are only known from fossils and belong to the genus Udora, which cannot yet be assigned to any family.
Fenner Albert Chace Jr. was an American carcinologist.
Lysmata is a genus of shrimp in the infraorder Caridea, the caridean shrimp. The genus belongs to the family Lysmatidae. Lysmata are popular ornamental shrimp in the marine aquarium trade for their bright color patterns, interesting behaviors, and ability to control certain aquarium pests such as sea anemones of the genus Aiptasia. They are known to command high prices on the pet market.
Thor is a genus of shrimp in the family Thoridae, containing the following species:
Procaris hawaiana is a species of shrimp in the family Procarididae, from Maui, Hawaii. It is very similar to Procaris ascensionis from Ascension Island.
Procaris noelensis is a species of shrimp, a single specimen having been described by Bruce & Davie from a freshwater/tidally influenced cave system on Christmas Island in 2006.
Periclimenes, commonly known as glass shrimp or cleaner shrimp, is a commensal and often symbiotic genus of semi-transparent shrimp within the family Palaemonidae. Species of this large genus feature a wide variety of coloration and patterns, widespread distribution throughout much of the world's tropical oceans, and are often sought out for aquarium trade.
