Palaemonidae (shrimpies)

Charlesr1958

Working DiveMaster
Oct 30, 2004
264
0
0
Philippines
www.chucksaddiction.com
Hey All,

I've been working (collecting/photographing) as many of the Palaemonidae shrimp as I can find lately and just wanted to share a few of my most recent finds (yesterday).

unknown005ID.jpg


I've seen a great many snapping (pistol) shrimp in my day, but this one is the first I have seen as a commensal. While I was searching the arms of a Crinoid for any of the very small shrimp associated with Crinoids, I noticed two relatively large objects down on the Crinoids oral plate. What a surprise to find these shrimp, which were extremely reluctant to leave their host. I would get one away from the crinoid in my hand and had them swim through open water making a bee-line right back to the crinoid.

If anyone has some large, good photos of any of the Palaemonidae, please consider contributing as it is my hope that over the coming years this page will become a usefull identification guide for others. Here is the link:

http://www.chucksaddiction.com/Palaemonidae.html

Thanks as always!

Chuck
 
I'll have to bring my camera to the shop. We get lots of commensal Alpheids in coral colonies. I have also seen similar shrimp to what you describe. They were oddly shaped--somewhat elongated. They were also a brilliant red color. No pictures of those, though.
 
Thanks, that would be great. I too noticed that the Alpheids,Harpiliopsis and the like are very common in many coral colonies, I'll have to turn my focus on them shortely as well. Am looking forward to what you will find.

Chuck
 
Just a thought, but would you consider sending me any specimens that you can catch? I could send you some small shipping vials and it would take nothing but some rubbing alcohol and a CD mailer through regular mail. If so, one good live color photo would be needed and then when I get the specimen(s) I can take the microscopic detailed photos which are needed for any hope of getting an ID.

Chuck
 
That's not a problem. You wouldn't happen to have a rough estimate on shipping that far, would you? The most distant place I have shipped is in western Europe.
 
Would you be interested in pictures of freshwater and estuarine palaemonids as well? I should be able to get photos of a few wild Palaemonetes species, and with luck, some Palaemon and Macrobrachium as well.
 
That's not a problem. You wouldn't happen to have a rough estimate on shipping that far, would you? The most distant place I have shipped is in western Europe.

I sent a box of liquid filled small vials in a box(20 or so?) to the L.A. Natural History Museum and it cost me about ten dollars by regular post. But I also sent five vials in a padded CD mailer envelope to Arkansas and the postage was only one dollar. I guess the box being wider and bulkier would cost more as it would take up more space.

Chuck
 
Would you be interested in pictures of freshwater and estuarine palaemonids as well? I should be able to get photos of a few wild Palaemonetes species, and with luck, some Palaemon and Macrobrachium as well.

Thanks for the offer, but I don't know where I would put such critters as I don't have any freshwater pages, but... might the saltwater be expanded to include a few freshwater?

Chuck
 
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