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	Kingdom Animale | Phylum Arthropoda | Subphylum Crustacea | Class Malacostraca

Snapping or Pistol Shrimp Family Alpheidae Order Decapoda Members of this family have one of their pincers enlarged and a special mechanism at the base of the fingers allows the animals to make a loud snapping sound. It is believed this sound serves not only to stun potential prey but also to warn off trespassers or predators. On the reef and the rocky shore, these shrimps are responsible for the "clicks" one hears. Alpheus microrhynchus (top, vertical) is the large mangrove species, whereas most of the common sandy and rocky shore ones belong to the genera Alpheus (below, horizontal) and Synalpheus. (Length 2-7cm).

Introduction Shore environment

From A Guide to Seashore Life by Dr Leo W H Tan and Peter K L Ng Published by the Singapore Science Centre and sponsored by BP @Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research and Singapore Science Centre