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FAQs about Harlequin Shrimps Identification
Related FAQs: Gnathophylliids
1, Gnathophylliids 2, &
FAQs on: Gnathophylliid Behavior,
Gnathophylliid Compatibility,
Gnathophylliid Selection,
Gnathophylliid Systems,
Gnathophylliid Feeding,
Gnathophylliid
Disease, Gnathophylliid Reproduction,
& Marine
Shrimps 1, Marine
Shrimps 3, Shrimp Identification, Shrimp Selection,
Shrimp Behavior, Shrimp
Compatibility, Shrimp Systems, Shrimp
Feeding, Shrimp Reproduction, Shrimp
Disease, Cleaner
Shrimp, Banded
Coral Shrimp, Dancing Shrimp, Harlequin
Shrimp, Pistol Shrimp, Saron
Shrimp, Mantis
Shrimp, Anemone
Eating Shrimp, Crustacean
Identification, Crustacean Selection,
Crustacean Behavior,
Crustacean Compatibility,
Crustacean Systems,
Crustacean Feeding,
Crustacean Disease,
Crustacean Reproduction,
Related Articles: Harlequin Shrimp, Shrimp, A Few Common
Shrimps for the Marine Aquarium by James W. Fatherree,
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- Identifying the Hymenocera Shrimps -
Hi,
How are the various species of harlequin shrimps identified? <Well... to my
knowledge, there are only two species: H. elegans and H. picta. Telling them
apart is reasonably easy as H. elegans almost always has some blue in its
colored spots, and sometimes the spots are entirely blue. Spots on H. picta are
typically a pink/salmon color with no blue at all.> Someone has recently
discovered some here in South Africa and is trying to determine which of the
harlequin shrimp species it is. Any ideas? <Try the colors first.>
Many thanks,
James.
<Cheers, J -- >
Shrimp ID help please
– 06/29/08
Hello WWM crew. Attached is a picture of a shrimp that I would like
some help verifying its ID, please. This shrimp was found by a friend of
mine while diving in Panama City, FL (northern Gulf of Mexico). She
found it when she picked up a long spine sea urchin to show to a student
(she is a dive instructor). She came to me and to a biology teacher for
help in identification.
The biology teacher thought it to possibly be in the Periclimenes family
or possibly the Gnathophyllum family.
<The latter... though at first I too thought it was a Palaemonid...
faulty memory... more so all the time>
I did a lot of Google work and also searched your site but found little
info.
Based on a few difficult to see photos, I believe it is Gnathophyllum
elegans. This seems supported (at least down to the Gnathophyllum
family) by the fact that it was found on the bottom of an urchin, and
Julian Sprung's book "Invertebrates: A Quick Reference Guide" reports
that Gnathophyllum may feed on the feet of urchins and sea stars.
<Mmm, nah! Must>
The best photos I could find with the full scientific name came from not
what I would consider highly reliable sources and most of them were not
written in English, but they were the closest matches I could find and
did indicate the scientific name of Gnathophyllum elegans.
Any help you could give towards a definite ID would be greatly
appreciated. Also, what are your opinions as to their aquarium
suitability (given that it would almost certainly require a species only
biotype). I realize their natural diet would be difficult to replicate
and not desirable to replicate in my opinion. Mr. Sprung recommends
feeding finely chopped meaty foods and even flake foods;
<No... like most of its family, this animal feeds on the tube feet of
certain echinoderms found in its range. An interesting remark... it is
recorded as a facultative cleaner, removing parasites from fishes, when
young>
however, I think he is somewhat overly optimistic on some animals'
aquarium suitability.
Thanks for all your help (past, present and future!).
Sincerely,
Rob Watson
<Am almost sure this is Gnathophyllum panamense... found from the lower
Sea of Cortez in Mexico's Baja to Ecuador... Bob Fenner> |
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