Cleaner shrimp
A cleaner shrimp is a marine crustacean that removes parasites and dead tissue from fish, forming mutualistic relationships.
Also known as: skunk cleaner shrimp, Lysmata amboinensis
How big is it?
5.5 cm · defined body length
Also 2.165 in
Defined body length · defined specimen
Typical recorded range: 4 cm to 7 cm.
A little perspective
Cleaner shrimp vs Antarctic krill: length comparison
The adult body length of an Antarctic krill is about 1.09 times the body length of a cleaner shrimp.
A cleaner shrimp is a marine crustacean that removes parasites and dead tissue from fish, forming mutualistic relationships.
Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) are small, shrimp-like marine crustaceans that serve as a vital food source for many Antarctic animals.
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions. Horizontal rulers compare the selected spans; vertical brackets also identify height on the artwork.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Cleaner shrimp
Defined body length: 5.5 cm; defined specimen; range 4 cm–7 cm.
A defined 5.5 cm skunk cleaner shrimp measured from rostrum to tail fan. Long white antennae extend beyond and are excluded from body length.
Smithsonian Ocean — Cleaner shrimp
The marked defined body length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Antarctic krill
Defined adult body length: 6 cm; representative specimen; range 5 cm–6.5 cm.
A defined adult Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) 6 cm long with a 1.5 g wet mass. Body length excludes the antennae; sex, maturity and feeding condition affect size.
Australian Antarctic Program — Antarctic krill
The marked defined adult body length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 5.5 cm
We compare the body length of a cleaner shrimp. This is an illustrative comparison value, not a claim that every example is the same. The recorded range is 4 cm to 7 cm.
A defined 5.5 cm skunk cleaner shrimp measured from rostrum to tail fan. Long white antennae extend beyond and are excluded from body length.
The marked vertical span follows the measured feature, not the edges of the image. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 cm | 4 cm to 7 cm | defined specimen |
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Nearest higher valueLiving thingsAntarctic krill6 cmDefined adult body lengthAntarctic krill (Euphausia superba) are small, shrimp-like marine crustaceans that serve as a vital food source for many Antarctic animals.Sources and method
Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- Smithsonian Ocean — Cleaner shrimpCleaner-shrimp anatomy and ecological context; the atlas uses a defined specimen.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
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