Explores the evolution, natural history, biological diversity, and commercial importance of caridean shrimps. The biological diversity of carideans encompasses a remarkable array of adaptations in body form and function, colouration, breeding biology, and mating behaviour. Reproductive biology and sexual systems are reviewed, and Bauer provides evidence for sex pheromones in the attraction of males to females. Life history patterns, as well as caridean symbioses with other animals, are described and analysed. Profiles each of the nearly 30 families of caridean shrimps.