Description: A small prawn that can reach a length of up to 3 cm but is usually much smaller. The colouration is highly varied and quite often depends on the habitat in which it is living. It can be red, green or brown, or flecked green or brown, or even almost transparent. It can have white or pale patches on the body. The varied colouration is often very effective camouflage. It has one spine above the eye, one below the eye and one at the antenna. It has a long rostrum with one spine at the base towards the carapace. There are two pairs of spines on the tail (telson). The first pair of walking legs are shorter than the others.

Habitat: Found from the lower shore to around 150 m in a variety of habitats including rockpools, amongst algae and on Zostera beds. Reported most often from the intertidal amongst algae and in rockpools.

Distribution: Found all around Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: There are other species of Hippolyte and small prawns that this species could be confused with. The spine at the base of the rostrum helps differentiate this species from others.

Key Identification Features:

• A small prawn up to 3 cm, but quite often smaller.
• Highly varied colouration which is often dependent on habitat.
• One spine above the eye, one spine below the eye and one at the antenna.
• Long rostrum with a single spine at the base.
• Two pairs of spines on telson (tail).

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

iNaturalist: Hippolyte varians at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Hippolyte varians

WoRMS: Hippolyte varians at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Hippolyte varians Leach, 1814. AphiaID: 107518.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Arthropoda; Crustacea; Multicrustacea; Malacostraca; Eumalacostraca; Eucarida; Decapoda; Pleocyemata; Caridea; Alpheoidea; Hippolytidae; Hippolyte