Gnathophyllidae

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Gnathophyllidae
Painted shrimp, Hymenocera picta
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Crustacea Class: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda Suborder: Pleocyemata Infraorder: Caridea Superfamily: Palaemonoidea Family: Gnathophyllidae Dana, 1852
Genera
There are 4 genera and 12 species: Gnathophylloides Gnathophyllum - bumblebee shrimp Hymenocera - harlequin shrimp Levicaris

Gnathophyllid shrimps (family Gnathophyllidae) are a taxon of tropical shrimp in the superfamily Palaemonoidea. They are colorful and very popular for aquariums. These animals dwell in coral reefs, where they live on a diet of starfish. This animal also has unusual front legs that are shaped like paddles. Harlequin shrimps only grow up to 2 inches.

[edit] Taxonomy note

The genus Hymenocera is sometimes separated to form family Hymenoceridae.