Alpheus armatus | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Crustacea |
Class: | Malacostraca |
Order: | Decapoda |
Infraorder: | Caridea |
Family: | Alpheidae |
Genus: | Alpheus |
Species: | A. armatus |
Binomial name | |
Alpheus armatus | |
Alpheus armatus is a species of snapping shrimp in the family Alpheidae, found in shallow water in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. [1] It lives in association with a sea anemone such as Bartholomea annulata , clearing out sand from the cracks and crevices in which the sea anemone often lives.
Alpheus armatus is a moderate-sized shrimp, growing to a length of 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2.0 in). The antennae are white with dark bands, and the body is brown, orange or red, spotted with white. One of the front pair of legs bears an enormous pincer, used as a hunting and deterrent weapon, which is capable of producing a loud "click". The other front leg bears a small claw. [2]
Alpheus armatus occurs in the tropical and subtropical western Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, usually at depths greater than 10 m (33 ft). The very similar Alpheus immaculatus , with which A. armatus forms a species complex, mostly occurs between 13 and 25 m (43 and 82 ft). Both shrimps live in association with a sea anemone, usually Bartholomea annulata , which inhabits caves, overhangs and crevices, as well as coral rubble; the sea anemone conceals its foot and column in a concealed place and extends its tentacles into the water column to feed. When disturbed, the sea anemone contracts its body back into its lair, where it can defend itself with its stinging tentacles. Where the sea anemone lives close to a sandy seabed or in a turbulent location, it is more likely to have one or a pair of symbiotic shrimps living in association with it, than is a sea anemone further from the seabed. [3]
Alpheus armatus is a predator, feeding on small crustaceans, molluscs and even tiny fish. When a potential prey approaches this shrimp, it opens its large pincer wide and advances on the intruder, snapping the claw shut with a loud click. This sends out a jet of water like a water pistol and "knocks out" its prey; the click is caused by the bursting of the cavitation bubble that forms as the claw closes. The stunned prey is carried to the shrimp's lair and consumed. If for some reason the snapping claw is lost, the other claw enlarges, taking on the shape and function of the snapping claw, although never attaining the size of the original. At the next moult, a new small claw develops on the damaged limb, but does not resume its original function. [2]
Alpheus armatus is an obligate symbiont of a sea anemone, commonly Bartholomea annulata , and is able to acclimatise to its toxins. The shrimp searches out the sea anemone even when both are completely buried in sand. The shrimp actively clears away sand obstructing the entrance to the sea anemone's lair. [3] While cleaning the den, the shrimp exhibits three separate behaviours, digging, tossing sand and tamping. [3] The sea anemone benefits from these actions by being able to better contract into its lair for its own protection; the shrimp benefits from the protection provided by the sea anemone's stinging tentacles. [3]
The spotted cleaner shrimp, is a kind of cleaner shrimp common to the Caribbean Sea. These shrimp live among the tentacles of several species of sea anemones. They sway their body and wave their antennae in order to attract fish from which they eat dead tissue, algae and parasites.
Alpheidae is a family of caridean snapping shrimp, characterized by having asymmetrical claws, the larger of which is typically capable of producing a loud snapping sound. Other common names for animals in the group are pistol shrimp or alpheid shrimp.
The dahlia anemone is a sea anemone found in the north Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Its colour is variable, from deep red to brown or purplish, with green spots and darker tentacles. Dahlia anemones live attached to rock on the seabed from the lower tidal limit down to a depth of 100 m and also attached to other organisms. Their diet comprises small fish and crustaceans, which they immobilize by firing groups of stinging cells (cnidae) into them. Dahlia anemones are closely related to mottled anemones, and both species are usually referred to as northern red anemones.
Alpheus is a genus of snapping shrimp of the family Alpheidae. This genus contains in excess of 291 species, making this the most species-rich genus of shrimp. Like other snapping shrimp, the claws of Alpheus are asymmetrical, with one of the claws enlarged for making a popping noise. Some species in the genus enter into symbiotic relationships with gobiid fishes, and others associate with sea anemones. It's also the noisiest of all sea creatures and can immobilize small fish with its high pitched frequency.
Sea anemones are a group of predatory marine animals of the order Actiniaria. Because of their colourful appearance, they are named after the anemone, a terrestrial flowering plant. Sea anemones are classified in the phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa, subclass Hexacorallia. As cnidarians, sea anemones are related to corals, jellyfish, tube-dwelling anemones, and Hydra. Unlike jellyfish, sea anemones do not have a medusa stage in their life cycle.
Cassiopea andromeda is one of many cnidarian species called the upside-down jellyfish. It usually lives in intertidal sand or mudflats, shallow lagoons, and around mangroves. This jellyfish, often mistaken for a sea anemone, usually keeps its mouth facing upward. Its yellow-brown bell, which has white or pale streaks and spots, pulsates to run water through its arms for respiration and to gather food.
Condylactis gigantea is a tropical species of ball anemone that is found in shallow reefs and other shallow inshore areas in the Caribbean Sea – more specifically the West Indies – and the western Atlantic Ocean including southern Florida through the Florida Keys. It is also commonly known as: giant Caribbean sea anemone, giant golden anemone, condylactis anemone, Haitian anemone, pink-tipped anemone, purple-tipped anemone, and Florida condy. This species can easily be seen growing in lagoons or in inner reefs as either individuals or loose groups, but never as colonies. They are often used as a model organism along with others in their genus for facultative symbiosis with monocellular algae.
Anthopleura michaelseni, commonly known as the long-tentacled anemone or crevice anemone, is a species of sea anemone in the family Actiniidae. It is native to very shallow water round the coasts of southern Africa between Lüderitz and Durban.
Triactis is a genus of sea anemone in the family Aliciidae. It is monotypic, having only one species – Triactis producta. This is found in shallow waters in the Indo-Pacific where it lives on the seabed, rocks and corals. It derives much of its energy needs from the symbiotic algae it contains. It also forms a mutualistic relationship with small Lybia crabs.
Dardanus venosus, the starry-eyed crab or stareye crab, is a species of hermit crab in the family Diogenidae. It occurs in shallow water on the eastern coasts of America from Florida southward to Brazil. It is sometimes kept in reef aquaria.
The thinstripe hermit crab, Clibanarius vittatus, is a species of hermit crab in the family Diogenidae. It is found in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the western Atlantic Ocean.
Ancylomenes pedersoni, sometimes known as Pederson's shrimp and Pederson's cleaner shrimp, is a species of cleaner shrimp. It is part of the genus Ancylomenes and was described in 1958 by Fenner A. Chace Jr. as Periclimenes pedersoni. Ancylomenes pedersoni is found in the Caribbean Sea, often associated with a sea anemone, at depths of 1 to 15 metres. They are often found on the reefs off Bermuda.
Heteromysis actiniae, commonly known as the anemone mysid, is a species of opossum shrimp from the family Mysidae found in association with the sea anemone Bartholomea annulata. It is found in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
Bartholomea annulata is a species of sea anemone in the family Aiptasiidae, commonly known as the ringed anemone or corkscrew anemone. It is one of the most common anemones found on reefs in the Caribbean Sea.
Alpheus heterochaelis, the bigclaw snapping shrimp, is a snapper or pistol shrimp in the family Alpheidae. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
Lebrunia neglecta is a species of sea anemone in the family Aliciidae. It is found in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
Condylactis aurantiaca, commonly known as the golden anemone, is a species of sea anemone in the family Actiniidae. This species always remains largely buried in sand or sediment, attached to the substrate, with only the oral disc and tentacles visible.
Cerianthus membranaceus, the cylinder anemone or coloured tube anemone, is a species of large, tube-dwelling anemone in the family Cerianthidae. It is native to the Mediterranean Sea and adjoining parts of the northeastern Atlantic Ocean.
Oulactis magna, commonly known as the giant shore anemone or camouflaged anemone, and by its Māori name kōtore tino nui, is a common sea anemone found in New Zealand.
Cinetorhynchus rigens is a species of shrimp in the family Rhynchocinetidae. Common names include mechanical shrimp, Atlantic dancing shrimp, red night shrimp and red coral shrimp. It occurs in shallow water in the tropical Atlantic Ocean.