Banded Coral Shrimp
Stenopus hispidus
Red-and-white cleaner shrimp that sets up stations in reef crevices.
Family
Stenopodidae
Avg Size
5-7 cm
Habitat
This shrimp has a pan-tropical range that reaches into some temperate zones. In the western Atlantic it occurs from Canada south to Brazil and throughout the Gulf of Mexico, while in the Pacific its distribution extends as far south as Sydney and around New Zealand.
Behaviour
Living on coral reefs below the intertidal zone down to roughly 210 metres (690 ft), it works as a cleaner shrimp, signalling to passing fish by slowly waving its long white antennae. It stays near its reef shelter and performs a side-to-side dancing motion that tells nearby fish it is ready to feed and clean. Using three pairs of claws, it strips parasites, fungi and damaged tissue from its clients. The species is monogamous, forming lasting pairs.
Where & When to See It
No dive-site records found for this species yet.