Glass Shrimp

Palaemonetes paludosus

The glass shrimp (Palaemonetes paludosus), also known as the ghost shrimp or eastern grass shrimp, is a small freshwater shrimp in the family Palaemonidae. Adults reach about 2.5 cm in length and are largely transparent, with internal organs visible through their glass-like exoskeleton. They have long, slender legs, prominent antennae, and small chelae. This species inhabits freshwater and slightly brackish habitats including springs, streams, ponds, and vegetated lake margins at depths of 0-3 meters across the southeastern United States. Glass shrimp are omnivorous scavengers feeding on algae, detritus, and tiny invertebrates. They are commonly found among aquatic vegetation where their transparency provides excellent camouflage. In Florida's crystal-clear spring systems, they are a familiar sight for freshwater divers. Their remarkable transparency makes them living windows into invertebrate anatomy.