Description: A small shrimp reaching up to 20 mm with green, blue or red-brown coloration and usually bearing a very distinctive white dorsal stripe. They can also occasionally be translucent. Rostrum has a prominent point which protrudes between the eyes. Carapace almost forms a ‘hood’ over the eyes, hence the common name of ‘hooded shrimp.’ First set of legs and much more robust than the others and have pincers.

Habitat: Found from the lower shore down to around 60 m depth, usually hiding under stones or on gravelly sediment.

Distribution: Found all around Britain and Ireland, but likely to be under-recorded.

Similar Species: Could be confused with other small shrimps but white stripe and coloration is distinctive.

Key Identification Features:

• Green, blue or brown colouration to body, usually with a distinctive white stripe down the middle.
• Rostrum forms a prominent point between the eyes.
• First set of legs much more robust than others and have pincers.

Distribution Map from NBN: Athanas nitescens at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Athanas nitescens at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Athanas nitescens at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Athanas nitescens (Leach, 1814). AphiaID: 107486.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Arthropoda; Crustacea; Multicrustacea; Malacostraca; Eumalacostraca; Eucarida; Decapoda; Pleocyemata; Caridea; Alpheoidea; Alpheidae; Athanas