List of crustaceans of Ireland

There are 1,774 species of crustaceans recorded in Ireland.

Crustaceans are arthropods of the subphylum Crustacea. Most are aquatic, such as shrimp, barnacles, lobsters, crayfish, krill, but some are also adapted for land living, such as woodlice and crabs.

Family Bosminidae

 * Bosmina

Family Chydoridae
41 species including
 * Kurzia latissima

Family Eurycercidae
Eurycercus lamellatus

Eurycercus glacialis

Family Ilyocryptidae

 * Ilyocryptus sordidus

Family Daphniidae
12 species including
 * Ceriodaphnia quadrangula
 * Daphnia longispina
 * Daphnia pulex
 * Simocephalus vetulus

Family Macrothricidae
8 species

Family Sididae
3 species
 * Sida crystallina
 * Latona setifera

Family Holopediidae
1 species

Family Leptodoridae
1 species

Family Polyphemidae
1 species
 * Polyphemus pediculus

Family Cercopagididae
2 species

Family Podonidae
4 species

Family Nebaliidae
2 species including
 * Nebalia bipes

Family Nannosquillidae
1 species

Family Squillidae
1 species

Family Aoridae
15 species including
 * Aora gracilis
 * Lembos websteri
 * Microdeutopus anomalus

Family Ampeliscidae
15 species including
 * Ampelisca aequicornis
 * Ampelisca brevicornis
 * Ampelisca diadema
 * Ampelisca spinipes
 * Ampelisca tenuicornis
 * Ampelisca typica

Family Ampithoidae
6 species including
 * Amphitholina cuniculus
 * Ampithoe gammaroides
 * Ampithoe helleri
 * Ampithoe rubricata
 * Sunamphitoe pelagica

Family Calliopiidae

 * Calliopius laeviusculus

Family Caprellidae (skeleton shrimps, ghost shrimps)
11 species including
 * Caprella acanthifera
 * Caprella equilibra
 * Caprella linearis
 * Caprella mutica (Japanese skeleton shrimp)
 * Phtisica marina
 * Pariambus typicus

Family Cheirocratidae
1 species
 * Cheirocratus sundevalli

Family Corophiidae
14 species including
 * Chelicorophium chelicorne
 * Corophium arenarium
 * Corophium crassicorne
 * Corophium curvispinum
 * Corophium volutator
 * Ericthonius punctatus

Family Crangonyctidae
1 species
 * Crangonyx pseudogracilis

Family Eusiridae
6 species

Family Calliopidae
1 species

Family Dexaminidae
8 species including
 * Dexamine spinosa

Family Eulimnogammaridae

 * Eulimnogammarus obtusatus

Family Gammaridae
15-16 species
 * Echinogammarus marinus
 * Echinogammarus pirloti
 * Echinogammarus stoerensis
 * Gammarus duebeni
 * Gammarus finmarchicus
 * Gammarus lacustris 
 * Gammarus locusta
 * Gammarus pulex
 * Gammarus tigrinus
 * Gammarus zaddachi

Family Gammarellidae
2 species

Family Megaluropidae
1 species
 * Megaluropus agilis

Family Talitridae (landhoppers, sandhoppers, sand fleas)
6 species
 * Arcitalitrus dorrieni
 * Orchestia gammarellus
 * Orchestia mediterranea
 * Pseudorchestoidea brito
 * Talitrus saltator
 * Talorchestia deshayesii

Family Melphidippidae
2 species

Family Haustoriidae
1 species
 * Haustorius arenarius

Family Hyperiidae
7 species including
 * Hyperia galba

Family Hyalidae
6 species
 * Hyale pontica
 * Hyale prevostii
 * Hyale stebbingi

Family Ischyroceridae
14 species including
 * Ischyrocerus anguipes
 * Jassa falcata (scud)
 * Parajassa pelagica
 * Siphonoecetes kroyeranus

Family Leucothoidae
4 species
 * Leucothoe lilljeborgi

Family Colomastigidae
1 species

Family Cressidae
1 species

Family Stenothoidae
10 species including
 * Stenothoe marina

Family Lysianassidae
42 species including
 * Lysianassa ceratina
 * Orchomenella nana

Family Synopiidae
2 species

Family Argissidae
1 species

Family Iphimediidae
6 species

Family Stegocephalidae
1 species

Family Acanthonotozomellidae
1 species

Family Epimeriidae
1 species

Family Liljeborgiidae
3 species

Family Pardaliscidae
1 species

Family Melitidae
13 species including
 * Melita palmata
 * Abludomelita obtusata
 * Maerella tenuimana

Family Niphargidae
3 species
 * Microniphargus leruthi
 * Niphargus kochianus subsp. irlandicus
 * Niphargus wexfordensis



Family Oedicerotidae
11 species including
 * Perioculodes longimanus
 * Pontocrates altamarinus
 * Pontocrates arenarius
 * Monocorophium acherusicum
 * Synchelidium maculatum

Family Pleustidae
5 species

Family Amphilochidae
5-6 species including
 * Amphilochus neapolitanus

Family Cyproideidae
1 species

Family Phoxocephalidae
8-9 species
 * Harpinia antennaria

Family Photidae
8 species including
 * Gammaropsis nitida
 * Gammaropsis maculata

Family Pontoporeiidae
7 species
 * Ampelisca aequicornis
 * Bathyporeia elegans
 * Bathyporeia guilliamsoniana
 * Bathyporeia nana
 * Bathyporeia pelagica
 * Bathyporeia pilosa
 * Bathyporeia tenuipes

Family Urothoidae
3 species
 * Urothoe brevicornis
 * Urothoe elegans
 * Urothoe marina
 * Urothoe poseidonis

Family Isaeidae
2 species including
 * Microprotopus maculatus

Family Microprotidae
1 species

Family Cheluridae
1 species

Family Dulichiidae
2 species

Family Podoceridae
3 species

Family Phtisicidae
2 species

Family Mimonectidae
2? species

Family Scinidae
10 species

Family Lanceolidae
5 species

Family Vibiliidae
4 species

Family Cystisomatidae
4 species

Family Dairellidae
1 species

Family Phronimidae
1 species

Family Phrosinidae
3 species

Family Pronoidae
1species

Family Brachyscelidae
1 species

Family Tryphanidae
1 species

Family Platyscelidae
1 species

Family Bathynellidae
1 species
 * Antrobathynella stammeri

Family Bodotriidae
9 species including
 * Bodotria scorpioides
 * Cumopsis fagei
 * Cumopsis goodsiri
 * Vaunthompsonia cristata

Family Diastylidae
12 species including
 * Diastylis rugosa
 * Diastylis bradyi
 * Diastylis laevis
 * Diastylis rathkei

Family Leuconidae
2 species

Family Nannastacidae
6 species

Family Pseudocumatidae
2 species
 * Pseudocuma longicorne
 * Pseudocuma simile

Family Lampropidae
2 species

Family Bentheuphausiidae
1 species

Family Euphausiidae
13 species

Family Aristeidae
1 species

Family Benthesicymidae
2 species

Family Solenoceridae
1 species

Family Sergestidae
3 species

Family Stenopodidae
1 species

Family Pasiphaeidae
4 species

Family Oplophoridae
9 species

Family Bresiliidae
1 species

Family Nematocarcinidae
2 species

Family Palaemonidae
6 species

Family Processidae
2 species

Family Lithodidae
2 species

Family Chirostylidae
3 species

Family Homolidae
1 species

Family Cymonomidae
1 species

Family Glyphocrangonidae
1 species

Family Laomediidae
1 species

Family Polychelidae
8 species

Family Akanthophoreidae

 * Akanthophoreus gracilis

Family Alpheidae (snapping shrimp, pistol shrimp, alpheid shrimp)
3 species including
 * Alpheus macrocheles

Family Astacidae (freshwater crayfish)
1 species
 * Austropotamobius pallipes (white-clawed crayfish, Atlantic stream crayfish)

Family Atelecyclidae
1 species
 * Atelecyclus rotundatus (circular crab, round crab, old man's face crab)

Family Thiidae
1 species

Family Axiidae
2 species including
 * Calocaris macandreae

Family Callianassidae
2 species including
 * Callianassa subterranea (mud shrimp, ghost shrimp)

Family Calliopiidae

 * Apherusa jurinei

Family Cancridae
2 species including
 * Cancer pagurus (edible crab, brown crab)

Family Corystidae
1 species
 * Corystes cassivelaunus (masked crab, helmet crab, sand crab)

Family Crangonidae
11 species including
 * Crangon allmanni
 * Crangon crangon (brown shrimp, common shrimp, bay shrimp, sand shrimp)
 * Pontophilus spinosus

Family Diogenidae (left-handed hermit crabs)
1 species
 * Diogenes pugilator (small hermit crab, south-claw hermit crab)

Family Epialtidae

 * Pisa tetraodon

Family Galatheidae
10 species including
 * Galathea intermedia
 * Galathea nexa
 * Galathea squamifera (black squat lobster, Montagu's plated lobster)
 * Galathea strigosa
 * Munida rugosa (rugose squat lobster, plated lobster)

Family Goneplacidae
1 species
 * Goneplax rhomboides (angular crab)

Family Grapsidae (marsh crabs, shore crabs, talon crabs)
2 species including
 * Eriocheir sinensis (Chinese mitten crab, Shanghai hairy crab)

Family Hippolytidae (broken-back shrimp, anemone shrimp)
13 species including
 * Hippolyte varians
 * Thoralus cranchii

Family Inachidae



 * Inachus dorsettensis (scorpion spider crab)
 * Inachus leptochirus
 * Inachus phalangium (Leach's spider crab)
 * Macropodia rostrata (common spider crab, long-legged spider crab, long-legged crab)
 * Macropodia tenuirostris (slender spider crab)

Family Leucosiidae
5 species including
 * Ebalia tuberosa (Pennant's nut crab)
 * Ebalia tumefacta (Bryer's nut crab)

Family Majidae
17 species including
 * Eurynome aspera
 * Eurynome spinosa
 * Maja brachydactyla
 * Maja squinado (European spider crab, spiny spider crab, spinous spider crab)

Family Nephropidae (lobsters)
3 species including
 * Homarus gammarus (European/common lobster)
 * Nephrops norvegicus (Norway lobster, Dublin Bay prawn, langoustine, scampi)

Family Paguridae
11 species including
 * Anapagurus chiroacanthus
 * Anapagurus hyndmanni
 * Anapagurus laevis
 * Cestopagurus timidus
 * Pagurus bernhardus (common hermit crab, soldier crab)
 * Pagurus cuanensis
 * Pagurus prideaux
 * Pagurus pubescens

Family Parapaguridae
1 species

Family Oregoniidae



 * Hyas araneus (great spider crab)
 * Hyas coarctatus

Family Palaemonidae

 * Palaemon elegans
 * Palaemon serratus (common prawn)
 * Palaemonetes varians (common ditch shrimp, river shrimp, Atlantic ditch shrimp)

Family Palinuridae
2 species  including
 * Palinurus elephas (European spiny lobster, crayfish, cray, common spiny lobster, Mediterranean lobster, red lobster)

Family Pandalidae
5 species including
 * Pandalus montagui (pink shrimp, Aesop shrimp, Aesop prawn)

Family Pilumnidae

 * Pilumnus hirtellus (bristly crab, hairy crab)

Family Pinnotheridae
2 species including
 * Pinnotheres pisum (pea crab)

Family Pirimelidae
1 species
 * Pirimela denticulata

Family Porcellanidae (porcelain crab)
2 species
 * Pisidia longicornis (long-clawed porcelain crab)
 * Porcellana platycheles (broad-clawed porcelain crab)

Family Portunidae (swimming crabs)
14 species including
 * Carcinus maenas (European green crab, European shore crab)
 * Liocarcinus corrugatus (wrinkled swimming crab)
 * Liocarcinus depurator (harbour crab, sandy swimming crab)
 * Liocarcinus holsatus (flying crab)
 * Liocarcinus marmoreus (marbled swimming crab)
 * Liocarcinus navigator (arch-fronted swimming crab)
 * Liocarcinus pusillus (dwarf swimming crab)
 * Necora puber (velvet crab)
 * Portumnus latipes (pennant's swimming crab)

Family Geryonidae
3 species

Family Thoridae (broken-back shrimp, anemone shrimp)

 * Eualus occultus
 * Eualus pusiolus

Family Upogebiidae
2 species
 * Upogebia deltaura
 * Upogebia stellata

Family Xanthidae (mud crabs, pebble crabs, rubble crabs)
6 species including
 * Xantho hydrophilus
 * Xantho pilipes

Family Anthuridae

 * Cyathura carinata

Family Arcturidae
3 species
 * Astacilla longicornis

Family Armadillidiidae (pill bugs, roly polies, doodle bugs)
7 species
 * Armadillidium album
 * Armadillidium vulgare (pill-bug, pill woodlouse, roly-poly, doodle bug, potato bug, carpenter)

Family Asellidae



 * Asellus aquaticus (waterlouse, aquatic sowbug, water hoglouse)
 * Proasellus meridianus (one-spotted waterlouse, one-spotted water-slater)

Family Atylidae

 * Nototropis swammerdamei
 * Nototropis falcatus

Family Cirolanidae
10 species


 * Eurydice pulchra (speckled sea louse)
 * Eurydice affinis

Family Idoteidae
8 species
 * Idotea baltica
 * Idotea chelipes
 * Idotea granulosa
 * Idotea linearis
 * Idotea neglecta
 * Idotea pelagica

Family Janiridae
10 species
 * Ianiropsis breviremis
 * Jaera albifrons
 * Jaera forsmani
 * Jaera nordmanni
 * Janira maculosa

Family Ligiidae
1 species
 * Ligia oceanica (sea slater, common sea slater, sea roach)

Family Limnoriidae (gribble worms)
2 species
 * Limnoria lignorum (gribble)

Family Munnidae
4 species
 * Munna kroyeri

Family Oniscidae
1 species
 * Oniscus asellus (common woodlouse)

Family Philosciidae
1 species
 * Philoscia muscorum (common striped woodlouse, fast woodlouse)

Family Porcellionidae
8 species
 * Porcellio scaber (common rough woodlouse)
 * Porcellionides pruinosus

Family Sphaeromatidae

 * Dynamene bidentata
 * Lekanesphaera hookeri
 * Lekanesphaera rugicauda (Sphaeroma rugicauda)
 * Sphaeroma serratum

Family Trichoniscidae
13 species
 * Androniscus dentiger (rosy / pink woodlouse)
 * Trichoniscus pusillus (common pygmy woodlouse)

Family Paramunnidae
2 species

Family Pleurogonidae
2 species

Family Thambematidae
1 species

Family Desmosomatidae
2 species

Family Eurycopidae
6 species

Family Ischnomesidae
2 species

Family Munnopsididae
2 species

Family Bopyridae
7 species

Family Hemioniscidae
1 species

Family Phryxidae
3 species

Family Styloniscidae
1 species

Family Halophilosciidae
1 species

Family Platyarthridae
1 species

Family Cylisticidae
1 species

Family Leptanthuridae
1 species

Family Ancinidae
1 species

Family Aegidae
6 species

Family Dendrotiidae
2 species

Family Haploniscidae
10 species

Family Ilyarachnidae
1 species

Family Petalophthalmidae
3 species

Family Mysidae
66 species including
 * Gastrosaccus spinifer
 * Hemimysis anomala (bloody-red mysid)
 * Leptomysis gracilis
 * Leptomysis lingvura
 * Mysis relicta
 * Neomysis integer
 * Praunus flexuosus (chameleon shrimp)

Order Tanaidacea (tanaids)

 * Pseudoparatanais batei (incerta sedis)

Family Tanaidae
1 species
 * Tanais dulongii

Family Paratanaidae
2 species

Family Anarthruridae
3 species

Family Typhlotanaidae
2 species

Family Nototanaidae
1species

Family Neotanaidae
2 species

Family Apseudidae
1 species

Family Sphyrapidae
2 species

Family Argulidae (carp lice, fish lice)
2 species including
 * Argulus foliaceus (common fish louse)

Family Misophriidae
1 species

Family Calocalanidae
5 species including
 * Calocalanus contractus

Family Diaptomidae
6 species including
 * Diaptomus castor

Family Temoridae
4 species

Family Metridinidae
10 species

Family Centropagidae
6 species

Family Lucicutiidae
8 species

Family Heterorhabdidae
12 species

Family Augaptilidae
28 species

Family Arietellidae
6 species

Family Nullosetigeridae
2 species

Family Pseudocyclopidae
2 species

Family Candaciidae
6 species

Family Pontellidae
4 species

Family Parapontellidae
1 species

Family Bathypontiidae
1 species

Family Acartiidae
4 species

Family Clausocalanidae
5 species

Family Calanidae
7 species

Family Mecynoceridae
1 species

Family Eucalanidae
4 species

Family Megacalanidae
3 species

Family Paracalanidae
3 species

Family Spinocalanidae
7 species

Family Aetideidae
35 species

Family Euchaetidae
12 species

Family Phaennidae
12 species

Family Scolecitrichidae
22 species

Family Diaixidae
2 species

Family Stephidae
3 species

Family Tharybidae
3 species

Family Pseudocyclopiidae
1 species

Family Sacculinidae
1 species
 * Sacculina carcini

Family Trypetesidae
2 species

Family Enteropsidae

 * Mychophilus roseus

Family Oithonidae
6 species

Family Cyclopinidae
8 species

Family Oithonidae
6 species

Family Cyclopinidae
8 species

Family Cyclopidae
41 species

Family Notodelphyidae
23 species

Family Ascidicolidae
12 species

Family Cylindropsyllidae
3 species
 * Cylindropsyllus laevis

Family Dactylopusiidae

 * Diarthrodes roscoffensis

Family Harpacticidae
12 species


 * Tigriopus brevicornis (tigger-pod)

Family Longipediidae
6 species

Family Canuellidae
2 species

Family Aegisthidae
2 species

Family Ectinosomatidae
16-17 species

Family Darcythompsoniidae
2 species

Family Euterpinidae
1 species

Family Tachidiidae
5 species

Family Thompsonulidae
1 species

Family Tisbidae
18 species

Family Porcellidiidae
4-5 species

Family Peltidiidae
8 species

Family Clytemnestridae
2 species

Family Tegastidae
4 species

Family Thalestridae
34 species

Family Ambunguipedidae
1 species

Family Balaenophilidae
1 species

Family Parastenheliidae
1 species

Family Diosaccidae
38 species

Family Metidae
1 species

Family Ameiridae
23 species

Family Paramesochridae
5 species

Family Tetragonicipitidae
6 species

Family Canthocamptidae
26 species

Family Orthopsyllidae
1 species

Family Leptastacidae
2 species

Family Cletodidae
8 species

Family Huntemanniidae
1 species

Family Rhizothricidae
3 species

Family Argestidae
2 species

Family Laophontidae
36 species

Family Laophontopsidae
1 species

Family Normanellidae
2 species

Family Ancorabolidae
3 species

Family Mormonillidae
2 species

Family Ergasilidae
3 species

Family Rhynchomolgidae
4 species

Family Macrochironidae
1 species

Family Sabelliphilidae
4 species

Family Lichomolgidae
16-17 species

Family Pseudanthessiidae
5 species

Family Oncaeidae
14 species

Family Sapphirinidae
2 species

Family Clausidiidae
3 species

Family Synaptiphilidae
1 species

Family Mytilicolidae
3 species

Family Anthessiidae
1 species

Family Myicolidae
1 species

Family Corycaeidae
2-3 species

Family Bomolochidae
2 species

Family Taeniacanthidae
2 species

Family Chondracanthidae
6 species

Family Splanchnotrophidae
3 species

Family Philichthyidae
1 species

Family Lamippidae
2 species

Family Synapticolidae
1 species

Family Phyllodicolidae
1 species

Family Herpyllobiidae
1 species

Family Rataniidae
1 species

Family Asterocheridae
16 species

Family Artotrogidae
1 species

Family Dyspontiidae
5 species

Family Nanaspididae
1 species

Family Micropontiidae
1 species

Family Cancerillidae
2 species

Family Nicothoidae
8 species

Family Melinnacheridae
1 species

Family Caligidae
18 species including
 * Lepeophtheirus pectoralis

Family Trebiidae
1 species

Family Pandaridae
3 species

Family Cecropidae
3 species

Family Dichelesthiidae
1species

Family Hatschekiidae
1 species

Family Lernanthropidae
1 species

Family Pennellidae
6 species

Family Sphyriidae
2 species

Family Lernaeopodidae
10-11 species

Family Monstrillidae
7 species

Family Lepadidae
6 species
 * Lepas anatifera (pelagic gooseneck barnacle, smooth gooseneck barnacle)
 * Dosima fascicularis

Family Scalpellidae
4 species including


 * Scalpellum scalpellum

Family Coronulidae
2 species

Family Tetraclitidae
1 species

Family Archaeobalanidae
3 species including
 * Semibalanus balanoides

Family Balanidae
6-7 species including
 * Balanus balanus
 * Balanus crenatus
 * Balanus perforatus
 * Elminius modestus

Family Chthamalidae
2 species
 * Chthamalus montagui (Montagu's stellate barnacle)
 * Chthamalus stellatus (Poli's stellate barnacle)

Family Pyrgomatidae
1 species
 * Megatrema anglicum (Boscia anglica)

Family Verrucidae
1 species
 * Verruca stroemia

Family Linguatulidae
1 species

Family Platycopiidae
1species

Family Cylindroleberididae
2 species

Family Philomedidae
1species

Family Polycopidae
2 species

Family Bythocytheridae
2-3 species

Family Cytheridae
1species

Family Cytherideidae
4 species

Family Krithidae
1 species

Family Cuneocytheridae
1 species

Family Cytheruridae
13 species

Family Hemicytheridae
5 species

Family Leptocytheridae
4 species

Family Limnocytheridae
5 species

Family Loxoconchidae
8 species

Family Neocytherideidae
1 species

Family Paradoxostomatidae
11 species

Family Trachyleberididae
6 species

Family Xestoleberididae
2 species

Family Darwinulidae
2 species

Family Candonidae
22 species including
 * Candona candida

Family Cyprididae
25 species including
 * Cypris

Family Ilyocyprididae
2 species

Family Pontocyprididae
3 species