Animal Diversity Web

Geographic Range

Stenopus hispidus is cosmopolitan. It can be found in tropic waters throughout the Indo-Pacific Region from the Red Sea and southern Africa to the Hawaiian Tuamotu. It is also found in the western Atlantic, from Bermuda and off the coast of North Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico and southern Florida to the northern coast of South America. (Zhang, et al., August 1998)

• Biogeographic Regions
• indian ocean
  • native
• atlantic ocean
  • native
• pacific ocean
  • native

• Other Geographic Terms
• cosmopolitan

Habitat

Stenopus hispidus can be found in a variety of reef habitats from coral ledges to rocky ledges and crevices, but are occasionally found in undercut mats of rhizomes of Thalassia or discarded man-made objects such as car tires and buckets (Colin, 1978; Limbaugh et al., 1961). They are found in 2 to 4 meters of water, usually beyond the turbulent zone, but have been observed as deep as 210 meters (Limbaugh et al., 1961; Williams, 1984). (Colin, 1978; Limbaugh, et al., 1961)

• Habitat Regions
• tropical
• saltwater or marine

• Aquatic Biomes
• reef

• Range depth

  2 to 210 m

  6.56 to 688.98 ft

• Average depth

  2-4 m

  ft

Physical Description

Animals in the family Stenopodidae have spines on their body and on the larger chelipeds. The antennae are larger than their body (Limbaugh et al., 1961). Stenopus hispidus grows up to 6.2 cm (Williams, 1984).

Stenopus hispidus has a red and white-banded body and claws, with the bands sometimes bordered in purple. Banded coral shrimp have two pairs of long, white, hair-like antennae, the first of the antennae being uniramous (Humann, 1992). The walking legs and some parts of the body appear translucent while the third, or middle, pair of legs is enlarged and supports large claws (Humann, 1992). The claws have the ability to automize, or break off by natural means, when the individual feels threatened. The claw can regenerate and often results in unequal claw size (Colin, 1978). (Colin, 1978; Humann, 1992; Limbaugh, et al., 1961; Williams, 1984)

• Other Physical Features
• ectothermic
• heterothermic
• bilateral symmetry

• Sexual Dimorphism
• female larger

• Range length

  6.2 (high) cm

  2.44 (high) in

Development

Nine larval stages have been described (Williams, 1984). After being laid, the eggs hatch 16 days later (at 28 deg C), and usually at night (Zhang et al., 1998; Debelius and Baensch, 1997). Teleplanic larvae may be able to delay metamorphosis until reaching suitable habitat (Williams, 1984). Depending on diet and temperature, adult banded coral shrimp molt every 3 to 8 weeks (Debelius and Baensch, 1997). (Debelius and Baensch, 1997; Williams, 1984; Zhang, et al., August 1998)

• Development - Life Cycle
• metamorphosis

Reproduction

Males and females pair off to mate, possibly pairing off as juveniles and remaining together for years. (Limbaugh, et al., 1961)

• Mating System
• monogamous

Mates may go through a courtship ritual when a male is equal or larger than a female (Williams, 1984). The female Stenopus hispidus mates with her paired male immediately after molting (Zhang et al., 1998). The eggs initially appear as a greenish mass and are placed on the swimmerets underneath the female’s abdomen. The eggs hatch 16 days later (at 28 deg C), and usually at night (Zhang et al., 1998; Debelius and Baensch, 1997). (Debelius and Baensch, 1997; Williams, 1984; Zhang, et al., August 1998)

• Key Reproductive Features
• sexual
• fertilization
  • internal
• oviparous

• Breeding season

  Year Round

The eggs are placed on the swimmerets underneath the female’s abdomen until hatching. (Williams, 1984)

• Parental Investment
• pre-fertilization
  • provisioning
• pre-hatching/birth
  • protecting
    • female

Behavior

Stenopus hispidus juveniles often pair and grow together (Limbaugh et al., 1961). Adults are usually found in pairs and remain in the same area for days, months or even years (Colin, 1978). More specifically, S. hispidus has never been observed to move a distance greater than half a meter unless disturbed, and even then, the paired individuals attempt to stay together (Limbaugh et al., 1961). Depending on diet and temperature, the banded coral shrimp molt every 3 to 8 weeks (Debelius and Baensch, 1997). (Colin, 1978; Debelius and Baensch, 1997; Limbaugh, et al., 1961)

• Key Behaviors
• motile
• sedentary
• territorial

Communication and Perception

Crustaceans have setae and sensilla found all over the body. Sensilla covering the body function as mechanoreceptors or chemoreceptors. Special chemoreceptors are on the antennae. Well developed receptors provide info about appendage position and movement. Crustaceans also have simple and compound eyes.

• Communication Channels
• tactile
• chemical

• Other Communication Modes
• pheromones

• Perception Channels
• visual
• tactile
• chemical

Food Habits

S. hispidus consumes the parasites, injured tissue and undesirable food particles it “cleans” from cooperating coral reef fish species. (Limbaugh, et al., 1961)

• Primary Diet
• carnivore
  • eats non-insect arthropods
  • eats other marine invertebrates

• Animal Foods
• aquatic or marine worms
• aquatic crustaceans
• other marine invertebrates
• zooplankton

• Foraging Behavior
• filter-feeding

Predation

There are no regular predators of Stenopus hispidus, but they do not entirely escape predation. Some complete individuals have been found in the stomach of some groupers such as Epinephelus merra. (Debelius and Baensch, 1997)

• Known Predators

  • honeycomb groupers (Epinephelus merra)

Ecosystem Roles

Stenopus hispidus is a “cleaning shrimp.” Individuals remove and consume parasites, injured tissue and rejected food particles from some coral reef organisms (Limbaugh et al., 1961). S. hispidus perches near the opening of the cave or ledge in which they are living and wave their antennae to attract fish (Humann, 1992). These locations sometimes become known as cleaning stations. Individuals have the freedom to enter the mouth and gill cavities of host organisms, without being eaten, but usually remain in contact with the substrate when cleaning. Species that S. hispidus has been known to clean include morays, tangs, grunts and groupers (Limbaugh et al., 1961). (Humann, 1992; Limbaugh, et al., 1961)

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

S. hispidus is one of the first species to be imported for use in the tropical marine aquarium trade. It is sometimes difficult to raise because of its territorial temperament. (Debelius and Baensch, 1997)

• Positive Impacts
• pet trade

Other Comments

There is still much that is unknown about the development, lifespan and conservation efforts of Stenopus hispidus, but further research is ongoing.

Contributors

Renee Sherman Mulcrone (editor).

Kristen Sanderson (author), Hood College, Maureen Foley (editor), Hood College.

References

Brusca, R., G. Brusca. 1990. Invertebrates. Sunderland, Massachusetts: Sinauer Associates, Inc..

Colin, P. 1978. Caribbean Reef Invertebrates and Plants. Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H. Publications Inc. Ltd..

Debelius, H., H. Baensch. 1997. Baensch Marine Atlas, Vol 2. Morris Plans, NJ: Tetra Press.

Humann, P. 1992. Reef Creature Identification. Jacksonville, FL: New World Publications, Inc.

Limbaugh, C., H. Pederson, F. Chace Jr.. 1961. Shrimps that clean fishes. Bulletin of Marine Science Gulf and Caribbean, 11(2): 237-257.

Williams, A. 1984. Shrimps, lobsters, and crabs of the Atlantic coast of the Eastern United States, Maine to Florida. Washington, D. C.: Smithsonian Institute Press.

Zhang, D., L. Junda, L. Cresevell. August 1998. Mating behavior and spawning of the Banded coral shrimp *Stenopus hispidus* in the laboratory. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 18(3): 511-518.