Shrimp (Safari LTD - Incredible Creatures)

Walk-around of the shrimp, gen. sp. by Safari LTD., Incredible Creatures (2015). The figure is too generic to ascribe to a specific species.

First thing first. This is an unusual figure. There is a lot wrong with it...but it also has an incredible charm I just cannot get over. And I am very very happy to have it. For a while, Safari was releasing crustaceans (or similar) almost annually, as part of their IC line: Sally lightfoot crab (2006), terrestrial hermit crab (2006), American lobster (2007), horseshoe crab (2008), blue crab (2010). Then they stopped for a five years before releasing this shrimp this year (2015).

The figure is roughly 100 mm across it's longest points (tip of the rostrum to where the 'tail' bends downward). The bulk of the body is one piece, with each side of legs and each antenna attached to the main body. The main antennae are smooth (would be nice if they were segmented, or ringed to appear segmented). The antennules (shorter, second pair of antennae) are lacking.

The number of abdominal segments (6) and pleopods attached to the abdomen (5) are correct. It is hard to determine if there are 5 pairs of primary legs (pereopods) and 1 branched maxilliped, as there should be, or 6 legs, with a maxilliped attached to it. In other words, not sure if the first leg-like structure represents a pereopod and a maxilliped, or a branched maxilliped; if the latter than the counts would be accurate. The 'tail' is also incorrect, showing what appears to be 'triramous' uropods, when all decapods have biramous uropods.

Another downside to this figure is the color; shrimp and other crustaceans are usually not this shade of pink until after they are cooked.

Still despite the downsides of this figure, it is still a really cool little gem and I recommend it! Maybe I am also just excited because this is the first time in a few years Safari released an arthropod that wasn't 1) part of a TOOB, 2) a life cycle, or 3) a glow-in-the-dark re-release.

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happier in the sea than on someone's dinner plate:

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Very interesting but too huge for me :)

A very good walkaround. I like the scientific part:)
I've never bought this because I also cannot identify the species:(