Shrimp are a popular delicacy for humans, but did you know that they are also an important food source for many animals in the wild? If you’re wondering what creatures feast on these small crustaceans, you’ve come to the right place.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: fish, birds, mammals like otters and dolphins, and even some reptiles and amphibians eat shrimp as part of their diet.
In this nearly 3000 word guide, we’ll explore the many different animals that prey on shrimp, where they hunt for them, and how they capture and eat their shrimpy prey. We’ll also look at how shrimp fit into different ecosystems and food chains.
With helpful images and detailed descriptions, you’ll learn all about the diverse animals that love to gobble up juicy shrimp.
Fish That Eat Shrimp
Sharks
Sharks are one of the most notorious predators of shrimp. Their powerful jaws and sharp teeth make quick work of these small crustaceans. Sharks such as bull sharks, tiger sharks, and hammerhead sharks actively hunt shrimp as part of their diet. Some interesting facts about sharks that eat shrimp:
- Sharks use their heightened sense of smell to detect shrimp in the water from up to a quarter mile away.
- Some sharks are equipped with special electroreceptor organs that allow them to detect shrimp’s bioelectric fields.
- Larger sharks like bull sharks have such strong bites they can crunch through a shrimp’s hard shell with ease.
Groupers
Groupers are large predatory fish that inhabit coral reefs and rocky areas where shrimp tend to gather. Their huge mouths allow them to inhale shrimp in great quantities. Here are some key facts about groupers that prey on shrimp:
- Groupers use camouflage and ambush tactics to catch unaware shrimp.
- They swallow shrimp whole and can eat dozens in one sitting.
- Some of the most shrimp-eating grouper species include gag grouper, red grouper, and black grouper.
Snappers
With sharp teeth and lightning-fast attacks, snappers are a shrimp’s worst nightmare. These aggressive fish are perfectly adapted for feasting on small crustaceans. Fun facts about snappers that prey on shrimp:
- Snapper have extremely fast reflexes and can snatch shrimp in the blink of an eye.
- Mangrove snapper and mutton snapper are two snapper species that regularly eat shrimp.
- Snappers hunt shrimp both alone and in packs, herding and ambushing swarms of them.
Eels
With their slender, snakelike bodies, eels are able to hunt shrimp in tight spaces like rock crevices and coral holes. They use a combination of techniques to grab unsuspecting shrimp. Here’s what you need to know about eels that prey on shrimp:
- Moray eels and conger eels are two of the most common eels known to eat shrimp.
- Eels will scour shrimp’s hiding spots, suck shrimp directly into their mouths, and bite pieces of shrimp off with their sharp teeth.
- Their flexible jaws allow them to swallow shrimp whole, even those bigger than their head.
Seabass
From smallmouth bass to giant sea bass, many bass species eat shrimp. They are fierce predators equipped with the speed and power to capture shrimp. Interesting seabass facts include:
- Seabass often hunt shrimp in estuaries and shallow coastal waters where they are abundant.
- They consume shrimp of all sizes, from tiny transparent juveniles to large adults.
- Some pursue individual shrimp while others drive shrimp into bait balls for easy feeding.
Pufferfish
Despite their slow-moving, bloated appearance, pufferfish are actually savage shrimp hunters. Their beak-like jaws allow them to crack shells and snip shrimp in half. Here are some pufferfish facts related to their shrimp-eating habits:
- They use their powerful jaws to crush through shrimp shells with up to 190 pounds of force.
- Pufferfish often blow water to expose buried shrimp then suck them up with their mouth.
- Sharpnose pufferfish and green pufferfish are two species known for targeting shrimp.
Birds That Prey on Shrimp
Herons
Herons are common birds found in wetlands and along shorelines that regularly feast on shrimp. Their long legs allow them to wade through shallow water in search of food, while their sharp beaks spear and grasp prey.
Species like the great blue heron, grey heron, and little blue heron are all adept at catching shrimp and other small aquatic creatures.
Egrets
Similar to herons, egrets like the great egret and snowy egret use their slender builds to forage for shrimp in marshes and tidal flats. An egret’s distinctive yellow bill allows it to expertly snap up shrimp and fish found in muddy bottoms or just below the water’s surface.
Some species even stir up sediment with their feet to flush out hiding shrimp.
Pelicans
Pelicans may not seem like agile hunters, but their huge pouched bills are perfect for scooping up mouthfuls of shrimp and other prey. The brown pelican is known for plunge-diving from the air into ocean waters to catch fish. But pelicans also commonly feed in estuaries rich in nutrients and shrimp.
A pelican’s bill can hold up to three gallons of water and food!
Seagulls
Opportunistic feeders like seagulls will readily snack on shrimp stranded in tidal pools or left behind by fishing boats. Species like herring gulls use their hooked bills to pick shrimp out from rocks or probe the sand for buried crustaceans.
And thanks to their adaptations for soaring over coastlines for long periods, seagulls can quickly notice any easy meal.
Terns
Terns are seabirds that expertly dive into water to catch small fish and shrimp. The Caspian tern, for example, can plunge from heights of up to 25 feet to snatch its prey. Species like Forster’s terns even hover above the water’s surface before making their move.
And many terns nest in huge colonies on coastal islands and sandbars, giving them prime access to rich ocean feeding grounds.
Oystercatchers
As their name suggests, oystercatchers pry open mollusks with their thick, blunt bills—but shrimp also make up part of their diet. The black oystercatcher patrols rocky intertidal shores in search of prey, while the American oystercatcher probes wet sand for buried bivalves and worms.
An oystercatcher’s brightly-colored bill is perfectly suited for cracking into crustaceans or oyster shells.
Mammals That Feed on Shrimp
Sea Otters
Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are marine mammals that live along the coasts of the northern Pacific Ocean. These cute and charismatic creatures have an appetite for shellfish like shrimp, urchins, clams, mussels and crabs.
Sea otters will float on their backs while using rocks to crack open the hard shells of their prey to access the meat inside. Their high metabolism means they need to eat around 25% of their body weight each day to stay energized.
Dolphins
Many species of dolphins are opportunistic feeders that will eat shrimp and prawns when available. Some bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) have even learned to follow shrimp trawlers and feed on the discarded bycatch.
Studies have shown that over 70% of the diet of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) can consist of shrimp and prawns.[1] Their ability to emit ultrasonic clicks allows them to easily locate schools of shrimp.
Manatees
The gentle manatee is another marine mammal that feeds on shrimp, especially in coastal tidal areas and estuaries. Their whiskery bristles help them locate and shovel shrimp up from soft, muddy bottoms.
While not their primary food source, shrimp can make up over 5% of total manatee diet composition.[2]
Seals
Certain phocid seals like harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) are known to consume shrimp as part of their varied diet. A study in the Wadden Sea found that over 30% of prey samples from these seals contained brown shrimp (Crangon crangon).[3] Their streamlined bodies, powerful flippers and sensitive whiskers make them adept hunters of small crustaceans and fish.
Walruses
The walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) is the largest flippered marine mammal feeding on shellfish and other bottom dwellers like shrimp. Their formidable tusks are used to root around soft ocean floors for buried creatures.
While not a primary prey item, shrimp do occasionally show up in walrus stomach samples according to research.[4] When not diving for food, walruses can be found lounging on ice flows or rocky shores.
Bears
Along coastlines in Alaska and Canada, large brown bears (Ursus arctos) will wade into shallow waters at low tide in search of protein-rich food. Turning over rocks and probing wet sand with their claws, they gobble up crabs, clams, mussels and stranded shrimp.
Bears have even been documented using rocks to smash open Dungeness crab shells. One study found over 30% of brown bear scats on Kodiak Island contained remnants of shrimp shells or legs.[5]
Reptiles and Amphibians That Eat Shrimp
Alligators
Alligators are large, semiaquatic reptiles that inhabit swamps, marshes, ponds, rivers, and lakes, primarily in the southeastern United States. Their diet consists mainly of small animals such as fish, turtles, snakes, and waterfowl.
However, alligators will readily consume shrimp and other crustaceans when available.
In coastal habitats, alligators may feast on shrimp and other seafood that wash into their territory during high tides or storms. They also patrol shallow water in search of live shrimp to capture and swallow whole.
Crocodiles
Like their alligator cousins, crocodiles are opportunistic predators that will eat just about any animal they can capture and swallow. Species that live in brackish or saltwater habitats, such as the American crocodile and saltwater crocodile, often dine on shrimp and other small crustaceans.
Crocodiles may surprise wading birds and snatch them out the air as they peck for shrimp. The reptiles also scavenge any dead fish or animals in their midst, including shrimp.
Turtles
Many species of freshwater turtle include shrimp in their varied diets. Red-eared sliders, one of the most common pet turtle species, are particularly fond of eating live shrimp or dried shrimp from their food bowls.
Sea turtles graze on beds of shrimp and other marine invertebrates. The endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle favors crab and shrimp habitat along coastlines for feeding. Conservation efforts aim to protect these fragile shrimp nurseries.
Snakes
While not all snakes eat shrimp, some species that live in mangrove habitats and other brackish waters will eat small shrimp. Mangrove saltmarsh snakes primarily feast on crab but also consume shrimp and fish.
Small shrimp may fall victim to larger sea snakes, which prey mostly on fish and eels. However, shrimp make up a very minor part of snakes’ diets compared to other types of marine animals.
Frogs
Frogs and tadpoles housed as aquarium pets, such as African dwarf frogs or African clawed frogs, will readily feast on live freshwater shrimp introduced to their tanks. The movement of the shrimp triggers their predatory instincts to strike.
In the wild, very small freshwater shrimp or tadpoles may sometimes become prey for bullfrogs or other large frog species. But most frogs feed mainly on insects and spiders caught by their long, sticky tongues.
Newts
Like frogs, newts will enthusiastically eat small live shrimp offered in captivity. Aquatic newt species like the red-spotted newt may also occasionally eat tiny shrimp in ponds and streams.
Their small size allows newts to swallow just the smallest shrimp whole. But shrimp do not make up a significant portion of any newts’ diets in nature, which consists more of small insects, worms, tadpoles or fish eggs.
Shrimp in the Ecosystem and Food Chain
Shrimp as Prey
As small crustaceans, shrimp play an important role in the ecosystem and food chain, primarily as a food source for larger aquatic animals. Shrimp larvae and adults are consumed by a wide variety of fish, birds, and marine mammals.
Some key shrimp predators include tuna, mackerels, sharks, groupers, snappers, dolphins, sea turtles, and shorebirds.
Shrimp hide from predators by burrowing into the seafloor or hiding in vegetation. However, they fall victim in huge numbers as they are abundant, small in size, and relatively slow-moving compared to fish.
It’s estimated over 150 billion pounds of shrimp are consumed globally each year – so they represent a vital nutrient-rich food source in the ecosystem.
Shrimp as Scavengers
In addition to being prey, shrimp play a helpful waste removal role as crucial scavengers in ocean ecosystems. As they scour and skim the seafloor sediment, shrimp feed on detritus and dead organic materials from plants and animals.
Without efficient scavengers like shrimp, decomposing materials would overly accumulate and degrade marine habitats.
Where Shrimp Fit in the Food Chain
Shrimp occupy an intermediate trophic level in the complex marine food webs as both significant prey for larger organisms and efficient scavengers of dead organisms. As primary and secondary consumers, shrimp create an important energy and nutrient transfer link between lower level species like phytoplankton up to apex predators like sharks or dolphins.
- Primary producers: phytoplankton, algae, seagrasses
- Primary consumers: zooplankton, small crustaceans, shrimp
- Secondary consumers: fish, sharks, seabirds
- Apex predators: dolphins, whales, sea turtles
Importance of Shrimp to the Ecosystem
Given their vast numbers and nutrient composition, shrimp comprise a vital component within ocean and coastal food webs. Their ecological roles as both prey and scavengers are critical for marine ecosystem health and function.
As intermediate consumers, shrimp efficiently transfer energy upwards and recycle nutrients from lower to higher trophic levels – helping sustain fisheries production and biodiversity.
Conclusion
Shrimp may seem small, but they play a big role as a food source for diverse animals across many habitats. From mighty sharks in the oceans to tiny tree frogs in the wetlands, shrimp provide protein and nutrients that allows these animals to survive and thrive.
The next time you eat a shrimp cocktail or fried shrimp, remember the complex food web that brought that crustacean from the sea or stream to your plate. Knowing what animals prey on shrimp gives us a better understanding of ecological balance and how every creature is connected, from the bottom to the top of the food chain.
Want to learn more about shrimp or other aquatic creatures that serve as prey? Our detailed guides cover over a dozen popular seafoods and educate on how they fit into marine and freshwater ecosystems.
