MBL March Madness: Cherry Shrimp

One of just two freshwater species participating in MBL March Madness this year, cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) are native to freshwater streams of Taiwan. They belong to the order of crustaceans knows as decapods, which translates to “ten-footed” and includes lobsters, crabs, crayfish, prawns, and other shrimp. Cherry shrimp have legs for walking, claw-like appendages used for grabbing food, “jaw legs” used for feeding, and five pairs of limbs called pleopods for swimming.  Females also use their pleopods to store and care for their developing eggs. Researchers in the MBL’s Patel Lab have been working to establish cherry shrimp as a new model organism for crustacean development to evaluate the role of Hox genes in body plan organization.

Fun Facts: 

• Unlike most crustaceans, cherry shrimp don’t have a larval stage; they are direct developers. The young of this species emerge from the eggs as miniature (1-2mm) versions of the adult. 

• Cherry shrimp normally live in tropical waters, but populations have been observed as far north as Poland in areas where water has been “thermally polluted,” usually when used to cool power or manufacturing plants.
• Cherry shrimp are popular in the aquarium trade and can live well with snails.