Rimicaris exoculata
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF, description from Wikipedia.
Rimicaris exoculata, commonly known as the 'blind shrimp', is a species of shrimp. It thrives on active hydrothermal edifices at deep-sea vents of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This species belongs to the Alvinocarididae family of shrimp, named after the DSV Alvin, the vessel that collected the original samples described by M. L. Christoffersen in 1986.
- Scientific name
- Rimicaris exoculata
- Authority
- Williams & Rona, 1986
- Family
- Alvinocarididae
- Order
- Decapoda
- Depth range
- 1620–3670 m
- Habitat zone
- benthic
- Gbif occurrence records
- 609
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Arthropoda · Class: Malacostraca · Order: Decapoda · Family: Alvinocarididae · Genus: Rimicaris.
Accepted name: Rimicaris exoculata · Authority: Williams & Rona, 1986 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 107542.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Iorania concordia Vereshchaka, 1996; Rimicaris aurantiaca Martin, Signorovitch & Patel, 1997.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=107542 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)
Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Rimicaris exoculata. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Depth range: 1620–3670 m · Habitat zone: benthic.
SeaLifeBase notes: Originally described as eyeless, adults, however, possess a dorsal photoreceptor organ (Ref. 97382). Occurs in dense aggregations around sites of high temperature at hydrothermal vents. Feeds on epibiotic bacteria and bacteria found on sulphide surfaces. Juveniles are planktonic (Ref. 97382).
Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 72286) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Rimicaris-exoculata.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
609 georeferenced occurrence records for Rimicaris exoculata are published through GBIF from 3 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 10 distinct locations from a sample of 609 records, omitting 1 inland record that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.
Most records by country or area: Portugal (8); Guinea (1); United States of America (1).
Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: European waters (ERMS scope); Middle Atlantic; North Atlantic; South African Exclusive Economic Zone.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 4309635) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=4309635&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=107542 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
The genus name Rimicaris is composed of rima (Latin for "rift" or "fissure", referring to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge) + karis ("shrimp" in Greek), while the species epithet benign is Latin for "rendered eyeless", referring to the highly modified, non-image-forming eyes.
Rimicaris exoculata typically measures between 4–6 cm in length and weighs an average of 1.6 g. During the moult cycle of their exoskeleton, this species transitions from white to translucent due to mineral deposits in the branchial chamber. Both sides of their body are covered in many long bacteriophore setae, and they possess an enlarged cephalothorax. Although they lack eyes, Rimicaris exoculata has a high concentration of rhodopsin within a dorsal "eyespot" located beneath a transparent cuticle on their carapace. Despite having non-image-forming optics, their evolved compound eye on the dorsal surface suggests extreme sensitivity to light, and the ability to detect dim light and chemical compounds emitted by vents. With an enlarged gill chamber and hypertrophied mouthparts covered in thick microbial layers, Rimicaris exoculata house a dense ectosymbiotic community of chemoautotrophic bacteria within its gill chambers. The atypically large mouthparts within the gill chamber are densely covered with setae.
Rimicaris exoculata is a prevalent species found on active hydrothermal edifices at deep-sea vents of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at depths of up to 3600 m. R. exoculata tends to cluster in great numbers (often in the thousands of individuals) near where the hydrothermal fluid escapes the vent, where steep thermal and chemical gradients are expected.
The closely related species Rimicaris kairei is also found in similar habitats in Indian Ocean vent fields.
Source: Wikipedia: Rimicaris exoculata — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rimicaris_exoculata (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
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