Species Type:
Invertebrates
Common Name(s):
Caribbean peppermint shrimp
Size:
Peppermint shrimp are tiny, only reaching a size of 1.25 - 2.25 inches (3.175 - 5.715 centimeters).
Diet:
Peppermint shrimp are scavengers and cleaners. They feed off of debris and parasites from other animals.
Range & Habitat:
These shrimp can be found in Florida, especially from Key West to Cedar Key, and in the Gulf.
Details:
Peppermint shrimp are bright red and white, which helps them camouflage on coral reefs. But don’t be fooled—they don’t taste like peppermint! These shrimp clean parasites and dead skin from fishes, doing an important job in their ecosystem. Over the course of their life, they develop both male and female reproductive organs.
