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1. kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Thursday, 28-Sep-2023 04:24:08 JST kho

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   Ghost shrimp are appropriately named because they are totally transparent, and they are sometimes called Glass shrimp. Despite their shrimp-like appearance, they are actually more closely related to crabs. Though they are small, reaching up to three to four inches, Ghost shrimp can dig burrows that can be four feet deep. They are an important part of intertidal ecosystems, because they drive oxygen into the sand as they burrow, which helps organic matter to decompose, enriching the sediment, and ultimately providing food for more creatures.
   
   Their transparent nature is used as a defense mechanism in the wild. It’s very difficult for most of their natural predators to spot them as they scavenge the bottom of the riverbed.
   
   Beady little eyes can be found poking out from either side of the rostrum base. Look a little further, and you’ll see two pairs of antennae. One pair is long while the other is short.
   
   The antennae are usually clear like the rest of the body, though you might see some light coloration on a few ghost shrimp. They act as sensory organs that help them navigate the environment and gather some crucial information about the chemical composition of the water.
   
   Below the shrimp’s head, you’ll find six flexible segments. They’re much softer and more flexible than the tougher carapace. Look closely, and this section may look very familiar to you.
   
   It looks like any other shrimp that you might have eaten, albeit much smaller. The first five sections are attached to the pleopods, which are limbs used for swimming. The final sixth section holds the tail.