Shrimp are tasty little crustaceans that live in oceans rivers and lakes across the world. Their small size and abundance in many aquatic ecosystems makes them prey for a number of larger predators. In this article, I’ll highlight 23 different animals that regularly eat shrimp as part of their diet. Understanding what eats shrimp can give us insight into aquatic food webs and the importance of shrimp in maintaining balanced ecosystems.

Fish

Many species of bony fish and cartilaginous fish prey on shrimp. The small size of shrimp makes them an ideal food source for smaller fish, while larger individuals may go after bigger shrimp. Here are some of the most common fish that include shrimp in their diet:

Atlantic Catfish

The Atlantic catfish (Siluriformes) is a common catfish species found in rivers, lakes and coastal waters across North America. A versatile omnivore, catfish feed on insects, crustaceans, mollusks and plant matter. Their barbels allow them to probe into holes and crevices to find hidden shrimp.

Bluefish

An aggressive predator, the bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) is found along the Atlantic coast of North America and Africa. These fast-moving fish eat schools of smaller fish along with shrimp and other crustaceans. They hunt by chasing down prey in open waters.

California Grunion

The California grunion (Leuresthes tenuis) is a silvery fish that inhabits coastal waters off California and Baja. They feed on plankton, crustaceans and small fish. During their spawning period, large numbers of shrimp and other prey items become available in the intertidal zone, which the grunion take advantage of.

Cod

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) are common in the north Atlantic Ocean These large predatory fish feed on a wide variety of organisms including shrimp, crabs, mollusks and small fish. They forage along the sea floor ingesting prey whole

Redhorse

Redhorse (Moxostoma sp.) are largish suckers found widely in freshwater habitats in North America. They use their fleshy lips to vacuum up food from the bottom ingesting all manner of organisms including insects, plant matter and small invertebrates like shrimp.

Walleye

The walleye (Sander vitreus) is a popular freshwater game fish living in lakes and rivers across much of North America. It feeds largely on other fish but also preys on crayfish and shrimp, which it finds hugging the bottom.

Crustaceans

As fellow crustaceans, many crab and lobster species see shrimp as ideal prey. Here are some of the most voracious crustacean predators of shrimp:

Blue Crab

The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) inhabits estuaries and brackish waters along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America. An opportunistic feeder, it eats anything it can get its claws on including mollusks, smaller crabs and shrimp.

Dungeness Crab

This large edible crab (Metacarcinus magister) lives in the coastal Pacific Ocean. It will scavenge for dead animals but also actively hunts live prey like shrimp, using its sharp pincers to capture and break apart food.

Rock Crab

Rock crabs like the red rock crab (Cancer productus) inhabit Pacific coastal waters feeding on barnacles, snails, bivalves and shrimp. Their strong claws allow them to crush tough shells.

Caribbean Spiny Lobster

This iconic lobster (Panulirus argus) does not have large crushing claws like clawed lobsters. Instead they use their long, spiny antennules to probe into holes and coral crevices to find hidden shrimp and other prey.

Marine Mammals

Many marine mammals rely on shrimp and other small crustaceans to meet their substantial dietary needs:

Bottlenose Dolphin

Found worldwide in tropical to temperate oceans, bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) feed on a wide variety of organisms. Schools of shrimp are ambushed and consumed by these intelligent marine mammals.

West Indian Manatee

Manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) inhabit coastal waters, estuaries and rivers of the southeast United States and Caribbean. A bulk feeder, the manatee uses its flexible lips to suck up large quantities of vegetation. It also consumes shrimp, small fish and invertebrates.

Humpback Whale

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrates annually between cold water feeding grounds and tropical breeding areas. It consumes tons of krill, plankton and small schooling fish like herring. Humpbacks will also opportunistically devour shrimp concentrations.

Sea Turtles

Shrimp comprise an important part of the diet for many species of sea turtles:

Green Sea Turtle

Primarily a herbivore, the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) grazes on sea grasses and algae. But it opportunistically eats animals like jellyfish, crabs, sponges and shrimp. The shrimp provide valuable protein to augment its plant-based diet.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

The carnivorous loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) forages for crabs, mollusks and shrimp, which it crushes with its powerful jaws. Shrimp are abundant in its coastal habitat, making it an ideal prey choice.

Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle

The smallest marine turtle, Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) feeds largely on crabs but also consumes mollusks, fish, jellyfish and shrimp. These turtles have anatomical adaptations allowing them to effectively crush food.

Seabirds

Many seabirds feed extensively on shrimp and other small crustaceans. Here are a few that regularly prey on shrimp:

Gulls

Gulls like the herring gull (Larus argentatus) are common shorebirds that opportunistically scavenge on anything edible they find. They often pick out shrimp and other small organisms while wading in shallow waters.

Terns

Terns are seabirds like the Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) that plunge-dive for fish. But they also snatch up shrimp and other prey from just below the water’s surface. Large numbers of terns may congregate where shrimp are abundant.

Puffins

Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) and horned puffins (F. corniculata) nest on coastal cliffs but head out to sea to hunt. Flying underwater, they nab small fish, shrimp and other food to bring back and feed their young.

Other Marine Predators

Beyond fish, marine mammals and seabirds, shrimp are consumed by various other ocean-dwelling predators:

Octopus

Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) inhabit coastal regions worldwide. They pounce on crustaceans like crab and lobster, drilling through the shells with their beak. Shrimp are also readily eaten by octopus using this approach.

Sea Stars

Sea stars like the ochre sea star (Pisaster ochraceus) prey on mollusks but also consume crustaceans, including shrimp. They use their suction-cupped tube feet to pry open shells and expose the shrimp inside.

Stingrays

Stingrays like the southern stingray (Hypanus americanus) feed on a variety of bottom-dwelling organisms. Shrimp often comprise a large part of their diet. Stingrays find hidden shrimp using their electro-sensory capabilities.

Key Takeaways

• Shrimp form an integral part of aquatic food chains and are consumed by a wide variety of predator species.

• Fish, marine mammals, turtles, seabirds and other ocean predators all eat shrimp as a key food source.

• Even some land animals like raccoons will feed on shrimp when they can access them in coastal or riparian areas.

• Understanding the complex predator-prey relationships surrounding shrimp provides insight into the structure and functioning of marine and freshwater ecosystems.

• Overexploitation of shrimp by humans for food could potentially impact populations of other animals that depend on them for survival.

• Maintaining healthy shrimp populations ensures there are enough to support diverse natural predators while still allowing sustainable fishery harvests.