River shrimp found in Manx waters

A tiny North American shrimp is thriving in Isle of Man waters, researchers have discovered.

The pea-sized river shrimp lives in parts of streams which are too polluted for native freshwater shrimps.

Elise Heinz, a scientist from Middlesex University, and Dr Calum McNeil from the Manx government laboratory, have been studying the shrimps.

The pair found that the "crangonyx pseudogracilis" are more widespread than previously thought.

They were first recorded in the Isle of Man just over 10 years ago and have previously invaded rivers throughout the British Isles.

Experts believed it was probably introduced into these areas by accident, with imported pond plants for garden centres.

It is only half the size of our native freshwater shrimp and walks upright, unlike native shrimps which move sideways.

Ms Heinz has taken samples of the shrimps to examine their DNA to trace their most probable source.