WOW – was I surprised when a sparkling shrimp (Pandalopsis lucidirimicola) was spotted on a dive! The shrimp is covered in reflective white dots, with red or purple stripes running down the length of its body. It usually hides in crevices and is often difficult to find. It was only recently discovered in the 1990’s by a Vancouver Aquarium dive team led by Danny Kent. The sparkling shrimp can grow to 2.75 inches (7 cm) long, with a range from Ketchikan, Alaska to Sunrise Park, Gig Harbor, Washington.
References:
Jensen, Gregory. Crabs and Shrimps of the Pacific Coast: A Guide to Shallow-Water Decapods from Southeastern Alaska to the Mexican Border. Bremerton: MolaMarine, 2014.
Lamb, Andy and Hanby, Bernard. Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest: A Photographic Encyclopedia of Invertebrates, Seaweeds and Selected Fishes. Madeira Park: Harbour Publishing, 2005. (An online version of this book is also available to subscribers at https://knowbc.com)
