Stenopus hispidus


Stenopus hispidus is a shrimp-like decapod crustacean belonging to the infraorder Stenopodidea. Common names include coral banded shrimp and banded cleaner shrimp.

Distribution

Stenopus hispidus has a pan-tropical distribution, extending into some temperate areas. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean from Canada to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico. In Australia, it is found as far south as Sydney and it also occurs around New Zealand.

Description

Stenopus hispidus reaches a total length of, and has striking colouration. The ground colour is transparent, but the carapace, abdomen and the large third pereiopod are all banded red and white. The antennae and other pereiopods are white. The abdomen, carapace and third pereiopods are covered in spines.
Stenopus hispidus has the ability to detect individuals of its species. This trait is uncommon in invertebrates and is most likely explained through chemical signals.

Ecology

Stenopus hispidus lives below the intertidal zone, at depth of up to, on coral reefs. It is a cleaner shrimp, and advertises to passing fish by slowly waving its long, white antennae. To achieve this, S. hispidus performs a dancing behavior, staying close to its home in the reef and whips out its antenna as they move side to side. This behavior was first observed in the lab by Becker et. al, displaying a result that the dancing behavior observed in cleaner shrimp acts as a signal to inform surrounding fish that they are ready to feed and clean. S. hispidus uses its three pairs of claws to remove parasites, fungi and damaged tissue from the fish. Stenopus hispidus is monogamous. S. hispidus females are typically larger than the males. They occupy a territory that is 1–2 meters in diameter.

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