Alpheus richardsoni

Alpheus richardsoni, commonly known as Richardson's snapping shrimp, is a species of shrimp in the family Alpheidae.

Distribution

Richardson's snapping shrimp is primarily found in the South Pacific, in Australia, New Zealand and several List of [islands in the Pacific Ocean|Pacific Islands] as well.

Habitat and behaviour

Richardson's snapping shrimp likes to live in reef and seaweed areas, at depths of up to 25 metres. They use their large claw to make a loud noise which stuns their prey underwater. Richardson's Snapping Shrimp is known to have a symbiotic relationship with gobies, especially the species Drombus ocyurus. In this relationship, the animals dig a hole and the goby keeps watch for any potential predators and the shrimp protects the goby.

Diet

Richardson's snapping shrimp feeds on organic detritus and small invertebrates, which it hunts by stunning them with its claw.

Size and appearance

Richardson's snapping shrimp has a dark green-brown body that is covered in lots of small red spots. One of its claws is much bigger than the other, a common feature in Alpheidae shrimp. It gets up to 6 centimetres long.