Gnathophyllidae

Taxobox
name = Gnathophyllidae

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image_caption =Painted shrimp, "Hymenocera picta"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
subphylum = Crustacea
classis = Malacostraca
ordo = Decapoda
subordo = Pleocyemata
infraordo = Caridea
superfamilia = Palaemonoidea
familia = Gnathophyllidae
familia_authority = Dana, 1852
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = There are 4 genera and 12 species:
"Gnathophylloides"
"Gnathophyllum" - bumblebee shrimp
"Hymenocera" - harlequin shrimp
"Levicaris"

Gnathophyllid shrimps (family Gnathophyllidae) are a taxon of tropical shrimp in the superfamily Palaemonoidea. They are colorful and very popular for aquariums. These animals dwell in coral reefs, where they live on a diet of starfish. This animal also has unusual front legs that are shaped like paddles. Harlequin shrimps only grow up to 2 inches.

Taxonomy note

The genus "Hymenocera" is sometimes separated to form family Hymenoceridae.