opossum shrimp

noun

1. any small, shrimplike crustacean of the order Mysidacea, the females of which carry their eggs in a pouch between the legs.

opossum shrimp

noun

1. any of various shrimplike crustaceans of the genera Mysis, Praunus, etc, of the order Mysidacea, in which the females carry the eggs and young around in a ventral brood pouch

Word History and Origins

Origin of opossum shrimp¹

First recorded in 1835–45