BOXER SHRIMPS
STENOPODIDAE
Banded Coral Shrimp
Stenopus hispidus
Size
To 5cm. 

Description
:
Red and white banded body, claws and the large third pereiopod , with bands sometimes bodered with purple. 2 pairs of very long white antennae, the second pair being biramous, giving the appearance of 6 antennae in total. Long, equal-sized claw arms held at a 45 degree angle.

Ecology
Adults are usually found in pairs and remain in the same area for days, months or even years.  It 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.
If claw arms break, they regrow, but end up unequal in size. Nocturnal reef dweller, rocky bottoms and sponge pockets. They are found in 2 to 4 meters of water, usually beyond the turbulent zone, but have been observed as deep as down to 130ft (40m). They are occasionally found in undercut mats of rhizomes of Thalassia or discarded man-made objects. Act as cleaners, attracting fish by waving the long antennae and uses its three pairs of claws to remove parasites, fungi and damaged tissue from the fish.

Life Cycle
Males and females pair off to mate, possibly pairing off as juveniles and remaining together for years. Mating behavior occurs in the following sequence: antennule contact, erection of female body, grasping, mating and spawning. Nine larval stages have been described. After being laid, the eggs hatch 16 days later (at 28 deg C), and usually at night. Teleplanic larvae may be able to delay metamorphosis until reaching suitable habitat. Depending on diet and temperature, adult banded coral shrimp molt every 3 to 8 weeks.

    Ecological Descriptors
Habitat Size (cm) Diet Behaviour Sex 
Co, R 5 Cle, Noct Pr, Ter F
Banded Coral Shrimp
Banded Coral Shrimp
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