Shrimps

[Goosegogs]

Thoroughly enjoyed myself last week down in Aberystwyth while wandering through the rockpools. Stood still for a few minutes to take pictures when I felt something tickling me...



Bit rusty on identifying which ones they are though...

[GuyF]

These are actually Prawns rather than Shrimps.
I'm not sure what the key id features are to look for when you're trying to id Prawns, but these seems to match Leander serratus quite nicely.
I've seen this before, you can put your hand in the water near a Prawn and it will come over and 'groom' you!
Guy

[Dogghound]

There are two similar species Palaemon elegans and Palaemon serratus, the species there looks to be Palaemon Elegans. Which have a patch UK distribution but they do habituate North Wales.

[Goosegogs]

Having had a quick look at my book (though illustrations don't do it justice) , I think you are right, they are prawns - I had forgotten a general rule of thumb - prawns transparent (am more confident about mollusc identification). I've probably got some pictures suitable for the Gallery which I'll sort out this weekend/next week
Water was still nice and warm. Might be going somewhere tomorrow too as small person wants to build sandcastles.

[Goosegogs]

Here's a bigger prawn - didn't fancy being tickled by it



It didn't take much notice of the hermit crab (not good on those either!).

Currently the pic is in the unidentified section to double check with you about it being P. elegans. Let me know and I can message the Gallery mod if you think it is good enough to warrant being moved into water-life section.

[Dogghound]

Carnt tell the hermit from the view possibly Pagurus bernhardus , the prawn looks like Palaemon elegans , however there are 4 very similar species differentiated, by their number of rostral teeth (which again arnt clear in the photo, so i carnt say it with 100% confidence. The two P.elegans & P.serratus species do both occur in North West Wales.