Introduction to Kranji mangrove shrimps
Currently, there are 4 species of mangrove prawns found in Kranji mangrove: i) Alpheus euphrosyne, the banded mangrove snapping shrimps; ii) Alpheus microrhyncus, the giant mangrove snapping shrimps; iii) Caridina propinqua, the hairy handed mangrove prawn and iv) Potamalpheops tigger, the tigger prawns.
Both Alpheus spp. are snapping shrimps which have unequal pincers, one of the pincers is enlarged and a special mechanism at the base of the fingers allows the shrimps to make a loud snapping sound. The sound created serves to stun potential prey, warn off competitors and predator.
Caridina propinqua, as the common name suggested, these hairy handed prawns have their pincers fringed with long hairs. Lastly, the tigger prawns, Potamalpheops tigger, is a new species of alpheid shrimp which was only decribed from Singapore mangrove in 1997.
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