Spotted Cleaner Shrimp

Spotted Cleaner Shrimp Facts

• This remarkably evolved creation of Nature most frequently goes by the informative common name of the Spotted Cleaner Shrimp. Yet, it does have other general titles. These include the terms Carid Shrimp, Anemone Shrimp, and Commensal Shrimp.
• Within the scientific community, however, it’s often referred to by its technical designation. Unfortunately, that’s an extremely difficult one for the layperson to pronounce. That’s because it holds the formal tag of Periclimenes yucatanicus.
• The intriguing creature received that moniker due to the efforts of James Edmund Ives. The noted American researcher accomplished the first recognition of it as a separate and distinct species. He managed that scientifically noteworthy feat in 1891.
• Fortunately, the amazing Spotted Cleaner Shrimp appears to be maintaining a population base that’s both stable and sufficient. That pleasant state seems to hold true throughout its entire range. The IUCN thus does not currently show it on the Red List.
• Yet, this marvel of evolution still faces several potential threats to its continued existence as a species. Like all other forms of life on earth, most of these stem from the actions of man. They include the perils of habitat loss and climate change.

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Spotted Cleaner Shrimp Physical Description

Like many of earth’s amazing species, the Spotted Cleaner Shrimp often captivates those fortunate enough to encounter it in the wild. Unlike some others, however, it does not do so due to sheer size. That’s true since it’s much smaller than many of its relatives.

Despite this difference, though, it follows many of the physical patterns common to its kindred. Among those is the fact that it displays a certain degree of the physiological trait of sexual dimorphism. In its case, this trait manifests in terms of pure dimensions.

More precisely, males tend to be slightly shorter in length than their female counterparts. But Nature didn’t stop there in distinguishing the genders of this natural wonder. That’s because the males also usually possess thinner, shorter tail sections than females.

Otherwise, however, the two sexes of this incredible shrimp show the same general body design. This consists of a highly elongated shape. Yet, it nonetheless remains short. Taking the species as a whole, an average total length only equals approximately 1 in (2.5 cm).

Astoundingly, the body of the awesome Spotted Cleaner Shrimp primarily appears nearly transparent in coloring. This background is highlighted, though, by a pattern of saddle-shaped markings. These themselves typically present varying shades of brown and white.

The rest of the body structure also draws the eye of the observer. The legs and pincers of the creature display brilliant alternating stripes of white, purple, and red. Its two long antennae, meanwhile, show a white background, with numerous bands of dark black.

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Malacostraca
• Order: Decapoda
• Family: Palaemonidae
• Genus: Periclimenes
• Species: P. yucatanicus

Spotted Cleaner Shrimp Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The distinctive Spotted Cleaner Shrimp evolved as native to a moderately small swathe of the marine regions of the world. The exact setting for that zone of habitation doesn’t surprise many people, though. The natural beauty mainly inhabits the Caribbean Sea.

From there, the intrepid animal also appears in other areas connected and bordering this area. To the north, the invertebrate lives as far as the coastal areas of southern Florida, in the United States. Southward, though, it appears as far away as the waters of Colombia.

This marvelous product of eons of evolution also displays decided preferences regarding its choice of habitat. It only resides in relatively shallow waters, typically comparatively close to shore. It’s not known to live at depths greater than a mere 79 ft (24 m), in fact.

Yet, its very specific requirements do not simply end there, though. That’s because the vast majority of specimens make their home on sections of coral reefs. Scattered individuals and small groups do, however, sometimes choose to live on rocky reefs, as well.

The Spotted Cleaner Shrimp serves as an example of a highly, and unusually, evolved pattern of behavior. That’s true due to the fact that it lives in extremely close association with another animal. It actually lives among the tentacles of several species of sea anemones!

From there, the incredible shrimp feeds on the dead tissue and parasites affecting fish that are drawn to their activities. It also consumes smaller quantities of algae and occasionally plankton, as well. Several shrimp may maintain a presence on a single sea anemone.

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