Van Dover Shrimp



AKA Tiger Prawn, is a species of shrimp found on Ulta.

Ecology
Individuals live for 3–5 years in groups in rocky crevices at depths of up to 40 meters. Females grow faster and larger than males, and the population is highly seasonal, with a pronounced peak in the autumn. They are preyed upon by a variety of fish.

Description
Van Dover shrimp may be distinguished from other species of shrimp by the rostrum, which curves upwards, is bifurcated at the tip and has 6–7 along its upper edge, and 4–5 teeth on the lower edge. Other species may have a slightly curved rostrum, but then the teeth on its dorsal surface continue into the distal third, which is untoothed in Van Dover. Van Dover are pinkish brown, with reddish brown stripe patterns, and is typically 150 millimeters long, making it the largest of the native shrimp and prawns on Ulta.

Van Dover is one of the few invertebrates to have its hearing studied in detail; it is sensitive to frequencies between 100 Hz and 3kHz, with an acuity similar to that of fish. While the hearing range of a Van Dover individual changes as it grows, all are capable of hearing tones at 500 Hz.

Production
Van Dover shrimp are still captured in the wild on Ulta, but requires licensing by Ulta's planetary authorities. Commercially, the largest single producer of Van Dover Shrimp in the Union is SII Foods’ Shepherd's View farm on Blue Moon.