Evan Nazareth
Evan Nazareth
( Coralliocaris graminea )
Machine gun shrimp are found in association with coral such as the staghorn corals in tropical regions.
They are short with their eyes wide apart and have a dark green body with stripes of either white, black or blue. They have two 'pincers' or claws which are sometimes bigger than their body itself, which appears to look like the shrimp is holding two guns and hence giving them their common name. The shrimp utilise these pincers to make a snapping noise to scare away predators from the corals they call their home! You can usually see about 4-5 together on the same coral and they do not feed on their hosts and only use the corals for shelter.
They feed on various planktonic matter and smaller invertebrates.
Joydeep Sarkar
Living in varying habitats, they can be found in shallow as well as deeper waters.
They are called decorator crabs because of their ability to camouflage or 'decorate' by attaching pieces of coral, seaweed,rocks and even some small animals to the back of their shell in an attempt to blend into its surrounding habitat. This protects the crab from predators as it is almost impossible to spot them as long as they stay in the habitat of what they have on their shell. The living animals that attached to the crabs live in a mutually benefitting relationship where the crab provides them with left over food.
They feed on algae, sponges and small crustaceans.
Vardhan Patankar
( Allogalathea elegans )
Found in tropical shallow waters between 0-120 m.
Elegant squat lobster, despite their name are more closely related to hermit crabs than they are to lobsters. They can be found in many colours ranging from dark red, purple or even orange and brown usually matching the colour of their host but not always. They do not grow to be more than 2 cm in length and females are known to be bigger than the males. You can find them in association with feather stars as they use these stars as their hosts and as shelter from predators.
They feed on suspended planktonic particles in the water column. They usually follow their hosts feather stars which perfectly position themselves in the best areas to feed.
( Anemone sp. )
Usually found around a specific species of giant sponges in shallow coastal waters associated with coral reefs at depths between 10-45m.
They feed on small marine worms, crustaceans and scavenge on dead animals.
Joydeep Sarkar
Joydeep Sarkar
Joydeep Sarkar
( Hymenocera picta )
You can find these species of shrimp in shallow waters around reefs, between 5-40 m.
The harlequin shrimp is usually creamish coloured or white coupled with purple spots. They have walking legs on each side with large claws. The claws and eyes appear to look flattened and thin. They grow up to about a maximum length of 5 cm and live in pairs.
In terms of their diet, they are known to feed exclusively on starfish and sometimes other small fish. They are known to attack the crown of thorns starfish which in turn help with the survival of the coral reef as these are intrusive species.
Coastal Impact
( Panulirus versicolor )
These species can be found in shallow tropical waters in and around coral reefs at depths of about 15 m.
Growing up to about 40 cm, they have no claws unlike most of the other lobsters. They instead have two pairs of long antennae. Their shell or carapace varies in colour of white, pink and black with horizontal bands. The back end of their body is however, green while their legs are blackish blue with white stripes.
Their diet consists of feeding on dead animal flesh, other small invertebrates like crustaceans and arthropods and occasionally fish.
Joydeep Sarkar
( Neopetrolisthes maculatus )
Found in the areas of the tropical reefs, you can find them living amongst sea anemones.
Like the clownfish, these species live amongst the tentacles of sea anemones where the stinging tentacles of the sea anemone provide them with shelter and habitat from predators and usually live in pairs. They are completely white in colour spotted with purple-red spots on their body.
They feed by sweeping their feathery arms through the water to capture plankton and other organic particles.
Vardhan Patankar
( Trapezia tigrina )
Inhabit coral reefs and are always found in or around corals.
These guard crabs are distinguishable due to their bright red spots and are always in associaton with corals. They are called guard crabs because they guard corals from other predatores like starfish. They are in a symbiotic relationship with the coral; the coral provides them shelter while the crab protects the coral by keeping potentially damaging animals away, thus promoting their growth.
They feed on dead coral tissue, excess fluids and decomposing parts which boosts the corals survival and also on the planktonic particles that happen to fall in its vicinity.
Vardhan Patankar
Phalguni Ranjan
Vardhan Patankar
Vardhan Patankar
( Thor amboinensis )
Found all over the tropics, squat shrimp live in a sort of mutually benefitting relationship with corals and hence you can count on them to be found on or around coral tentacles or close to substrate near corals.
Growing to a range between 1 to 13 mm in size, these shrimp have a brownish body with yellow spots scattered all around. Their name 'squat shrimp' is a reference to their behaviour where they hold their abdomen above their head and wag their tail.
They feed on the various microfauna that the coral traps with its mucus and also on the coral tissue itself.
Phalguni Ranjan
Joydeep Sarkar
( Charybdis sp. )
The swimming crabs are species that can be found from the intertidal zone to the depths of around 50 m .
They are known to prefer areas with softer substrate such as sad or mud as long as some stones are present where they can hide under from predators or from exposure to sunlight. Swimming crabs can be identified by their distinguishable fifth pair of legs that are flat compared to their other pointy pairs which they use for swimming!
In relation to their diet, they are known to feed on whatever they get their claws on.
Phalguni Ranjan
Phalguni Ranjan
Phalguni Ranjan
( Lepas sp. )
You can find them in the intertidal zone, exposed coral reefs and attached to floating objects
Like the rest of the barnacles, goose barnacles are filter feeders that need to reside attached to a substrate like rock, any hard surface or flotsam. A distinctive feature of this species of barnacle, is the yellow, orange outlining their shell. These barnacles have a rubbery stalk and can be seen in large numbers or aggregations while growing up to about 5 cm in size.
Barnacles feed by moving their bristles or 'cirri' through the water to catch organic matter and microscopic organisms.
Joydeep Sarkar
( Carpilius maculatus )
Found in shallow coral and rocky areas. You are most likely to spot them under crevices and coral cover in the night.
They have a body with a maximum width of 9cm. This species has a distinctive pattern of big reddish spots on it's carapace or shell. They also have four ridges on their shell between their eyes.
Their diet mainly consists of marine snails and other small molluscs.
Joydeep Sarkar
( Lysiosquillina maculata )
Inhabit waters near the shore, where they dig burrows to hide in.
With a maximum length of 40 cm, the zebra mantis shrimp is the largest mantis shrimp species. These shrimp are referred to as the 'mantis shrimp' because of their second pair of limbs that are elongated and resemble the forelimbs of a praying mantis. These species have a limb that has spines that is used to spear and snatch their prey. Known to have amazing eye sight with each eye able to move independently of each other allowing them to have great vision. In terms of their appearance, they display stripes of red or black colour over the body.
They feed on marine snails, crabs and molluscs.
Joydeep Sarkar
Joydeep Sarkar
( Ancylomenes holthuisi )
Spotted at depths between 3-30 m usually resting and moving around large sea anemones.
Reaching only to a maximum length of about 2 cm, the Holthuis' anemone shrimp has a transparent body with a brown-spotted white patch behind its head, a white patch on its back and purple-blue colour on its tail and 'pincers' or claws. They always live in association with sea anemones.
Includes microorganisms that come in the vicinity of the sea anemones tentacles.
Joydeep Sarkar
( Saron sp. )
Inhabit areas with coral rubble or coral usually at depths as deep as 37 m.
Displaying a hunch-back characteristic, these shrimp have legs that are coloured with bands of brown or blue. The rest of the body can be a mixed of red, blue or brown. They are very timid and may run away for cover when they sense the slightest threat. Marbled shrimp can grow up to about 8 cm in length and are known to be able to change their body colour to camouflage themselves at night.
They feed on planktonic organisms, dead animals and other organic waste.
Evan Nazareth
Evan Nazareth
( Stegopontonia commensalis )
Spotted at depths between 0-10 m amongst the spines of sea urchins in intertidal areas.
Always found in association with dark sea urchins, they reside amongst the spines and are almost indistinguishable. Their body colouration and shape make them look like one of the spines of the sea urchin. They have an elongated body and blackish purple colour with three white stripes.
They feed on planktonic organisms.
Evan Nazareth
Evan Nazareth
( Gonodactylus viridis )
Spotted in areas around seagrass beds and coral reefs, mostly active at night. They are usually seen hiding in crevices, amongst rocks and corals.
They can reach about 10 cm in maximum length and display a long cylinder shaped body that vary in shades of green. Atop the green background colouring, they have several white spots scattered randomly. An interesting feature of these shrimp are their front pincers that are sort of modified into clubs or something resembling fists, these structures are used to smash open prey with shells. This is where their name, smasher mantis shrimp comes from.
They feed on crabs, snails and clams.
Joydeep Sarkar
( Stenopus hispidus )
Commonly spotted at depths between 20-50 m.
A small shrimp with a maximum length of only 6 cm, they have a background transparent colour with their abdomen region and their large pair of legs coloured with bands of red and white in allusion to their name. The banded shrimp are cleaner shrimp, they clean passerby fish by using their claws to remove parasites, fungi and dead tissue.
They feed on dead tissue of fish that come by to get cleaned along with their parasites and fungi.
Joydeep Sarkar
( Portunus sanguinolentus )
Residing in near shore waters at a maximum depth of 30 m, mainly in intertidal zones and sandy areas.
Growing up to about 20 cm in length, these species of crab have a greenish-grey carapace or shell with three clearly visible red-black spots on the lower part of its back after which they are named. They also have two long spines on each side. As these are swimming crabs, the last pair of legs are flattened in order to allow them to paddle. They are quite harmless, but do be careful of their long claws that can cause a painful pinch!
They feed on small invertebrates.
Joydeep Sarkar
( Phycocaris simulans )
Spotted at depths between surface to about 20 m in and around coral reefs usually in association with red or green algae.
The hairy shrimp is a small species of shrimp usually found growing up to only about 1 cm. They are called so due to their extensions that resemble hair. You can find this species is many colours ranging from dark brown to complete white and their hairy appearance is a way to camouflage itself amongst surrounding algae.
They mainly feed on algae and dead organic matter.
Joydeep Sarkar
( Zebrida adamsii )
Found in shallow warm waters living amongst the spines of sea urchins at a depth of about 10 m.
This species of small crab have a carapace or shell that is smooth, hairless and covered with long spines. They vary in colour but are most commonly spotted in a white background colour with reddish-brown vertical stripes resembling that of a zebra thus evoking its common name.
They feed on the tube feet, tissue and matter of the host sea urchin.
Joydeep Sarkar
( Lissocarcinus orbicularis )
Found in shallow tropical waters of the coast usually in and around sea cucumbers.
Growing up to about 4 cm, they have a smooth carapace or shell and are quite small. Their carapace is spotted and may vary amongst individuals from reddish brown with red spots to white or yellowish with brown spots. They depend on sea cucumbers for survival as they feed on the surface of their tissue.
They feed on the the surface of sea cucumbers, consuming dead tissue and other organic matter.
Joydeep Sarkar
Joydeep Sarkar
( Lauriea siagiani )
Usually found around a specific species of giant sponges in shallow coastal waters associated with coral reefs at depths between 10-45m.
This small species of squat lobster can grow up to about 7 mm long. In terms of their colour, they are pink with red or purple markings or are white coloured with a tinge of purple with white hairs pocking out of their body.
They feed on small marine worms, crustaceans and scavenge on dead animals.
Joydeep Sarkar
Joydeep Sarkar
( Ancylomenes venustus )
Found amongst the branches or tentacles of scleractinian corals at depths between 8-15 m.
They are transclucent with blue to purple bands on their claws and legs. There is also a round white saddle with circular markings on the abdomen and white speckles scattered on the body. These are cleaner shrimp, that clean parasites of their host coral.
They feed on planktonic organisms, algae and parasites that they clean of their host.