Freshwater Shrimp

Gammarus pulex

Statistics

Taxonomic genus: Gammarus

Length: 0.5 to 2.5 cm

Average life span: 1 to 2 years

When To See

You can find them pretty much all year round, though they are livelier when its warmer.

Photo credit: Microcosmos.nl, Iain Reid

Habitat

These are some of the more robust species in our rivers, being fairly tolerant of some types of pollution in rivers. They can be found in most rivers, in and amongst the sediment and gravel in bottom of our rivers. They happily feed on a range of items from small worms and larvae to other detritus.  

How To Identify

Curved, laterally (from side to side) flattened body, usually greyish, green or orange-brown in colour. They have seven pairs of legs on the underside and two pairs of antennae.

Seen It?

Been kicking about in your local river and come across one of these invertebrates? Not sure? Share it with us at trust@forthriverstrust.org, we enjoy chatting about inverts with you.