Common Name:
Northern shrimp
Scientific Name:
Pandalus borealis
Unique Qualities:
It changes sex! It begins its life as a male and in its third or fourth year changes into a female. Researchers are not sure why this occurs. When the shrimp are young, they grow and mature in grassy bays. When they are adults, they venture out into the ocean.
Can be Seen:
Around Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and other parts of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Likes to Hang Out:
Moving around on the muddy ocean floor or floating in the water column at night.
Likes to Eat:
Plankton (microscopic plants and animals that float in the water).
Status:
Although not listed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), estimated populations of northern shrimp are much smaller than in previous years. Overfishing by humans is blamed for the lower numbers.
