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Snapping Shrimp Queen with Eggs

Preview Snapping shrimp queen with eggs.
(Emmet Duffy)

This snapping shrimp female (Synalpheus regalis) is the queen of her colony which means she is the only female to have babies. She stores her clutch of eggs under her abdomen until they hatch - some of the eggs have already developed eyes. Similar to other social animals like ants and bees, non-breeding shrimp are tasked with protecting their sponge from intruders. 

To learn more about shrimp check out this mantis shrimp and this harlequin shrimp

Tags: Reproduction