Alpheus richardsoni
Species of shrimp from the Pacific Ocean
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alpheus richardsoni, commonly known as Richardson's snapping shrimp, is a species of shrimp in the family Alpheidae.[1]
| Alpheus richardsoni | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Caridea |
| Family: | Alpheidae |
| Genus: | Alpheus |
| Species: | A. richardsoni |
| Binomial name | |
| Alpheus richardsoni Yaldwyn, 1971 | |
Distribution
Richardson's snapping shrimp is primarily found in the South Pacific, in Australia (including Tasmania), New Zealand and several Pacific Islands as well.[2]
Habitat and behaviour
Richardson's snapping shrimp likes to live in reef and seaweed areas, at depths of up to 25 metres.[3] They use their large claw to make a loud noise which stuns their prey underwater.[2] Richardson's Snapping Shrimp is known to have a symbiotic relationship with gobies, especially the species Drombus ocyurus.[4] In this relationship, the animals dig a hole and the goby keeps watch for any potential predators and the shrimp protects the goby.[citation needed]
Diet
Richardson's snapping shrimp feeds on organic detritus and small invertebrates, which it hunts by stunning them with its claw.[5]