At least 25 species of oplophorid shrimp have been collected in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Of these, 21 are pelagic and four commonly are found in samples taken at or near the sea floor. Acanthephyra pelagica and Heterogenys microphthalma are reported for the first time from the Gulf of Mexico. Acanthephyra acutifrons, A. stylorostratis, Meningodora marptocheles, Ephyrina benedicti and Notostomus elegans are reported for the first time from the Caribbean Sea. We provide comments on the morphology of A. curtirostris, A. eximia, A. pelagica, Hymenodora spp. and Meningodora mollis.