Ryan Photographic - Palaemonidae - Commensal shrimps
Family Palaemonidae
The family Palaemonidae is a large family of decapod crustaceans, commonly referred to as commensal shrimps because many of them do live in commensal relationships with a wide variety of invertebrates. Currently over 950 species are recognized in 137 genera, but as new species are discovered on a regular basis this is just a ballpark figure.
The family includes a number of commercially important species, particularly the fresh and brackish water genus Macrobrachium. Several species clean fish of parasites and dead tissue. They typically advertise their presence by long white antennae which they wave, apparently to draw attention to their services. Along with the various cleanerfish this provides an important service to the coral reef ecosystems. In the Caribbean, Pedersen's cleaner shrimp can often be seen in action cleaning green morays or cods with apparent impunity. Some palaemonid species live on featherstars and take on the coloration of their host. Others live on antipatharian (black) corals where they blend almost perfectly with the coral polyps.
Ancylomenes holthuisi Holhuis' anemone shrimp
Ancylomenes holthuisi Holhuis' anemone shrimp Puerto Galera, Philippines IMG_8278
Ancylomenes longicarpus, Long-arm cleaner shrimp
Ancylomenes longicarpus, Long-arm cleaner shrimp
Ancylomenes magnifica Magnificent anemone shrimp
Ancylomenes magnifica Magnificent anemone shrimp Puerto Galera, Philippines IMG_5236
Ancylomenes magnifica Magnificent anemone shrimp Puerto Galera, Philippines IMG_5207
Ancylomenes magnifica Magnificent anemone shrimp Puerto Galera, Philippines IMG_8037
Ancylomenes tosaensis Tosa shrimp
Ancylomenes tosaensis Tosa shrimp Raja Ampat, West Papua IMG_1227
Ancylomenes tosaensis, Magic Bay, Rao, Morotai 5P7A7221
Ancylomenes tosaensis Raja Ampat, West Papua IMG_1229
Ancylomenes venustus Graceful anemone shrimp
Ancylomenes venustus Graceful anemone shrimp Puerto Galera, Philippines IMG_5296
Conchodytes meleagrinae Pearl oyster shrimp
Conchodytes meleagrinae shrimp from pearl oyster, Fiji
Dasycaris ceratops, Horned sea pen shrimp
Dasycaris ceratops, Horned sea pen shrimp on left, D. symbiotes is to the right. Magic Bay, Rao
Dasycaris symbiotes Sea pen shrimp
Dasycaris symbiotes Magic Bay Rao, Moritai P7053715
Hamopontonia corallicola Egg shell shrimp
Hamopontonia corallicola Egg shell shrimp. These extraordinary animals are commensal with several coral species . Magic Bay Rao, Morotai, Indonesia 5P7A6796
Laomenes commensal crinoid shrimp
Laomenes commensal crinoid shrimp Raja Ampat IMG_0750
Laomenes commensal crinoid shrimp Raja Ampat IMG_0736
Laomenes species Crinoid commensal shrimp Raja Ampat
Laomenes species Crinoid shrimp, Rao Island, Morotai 5P7A7134
Macrobrachium Freshwater prawn
Macrobrachium, Wailoku, Suva, Fiji-4814
Manipontonia psamathe Translucent gorgornian shrimp
Manipontonia psamathe on Antipathes black coral Raja Ampat West Papua IMG_1535
Palaemon affinis Glass shrimp
Palaemon affinis, Glass shrimp, Kaikoura, New Zealand. Captive.
Palaemon affinis, Glass shrimp 2, Kaikoura, New Zealand. Captive.
Periclimenes brevicarpalis Peacock-tail anemone shrimp
 Kadavu, Fiji med res.jpg)
Periclimenes brevicarpalis, Peacock-tail anemone shrimp Kadavu, Fiji
Periclimenes brevicarpalis, Kadavu, Fiji
Periclimenes brevicarpalis, Raja Ampat, West Papua IMG_2437
Periclimenes koroensis, Mushroom coral shrimp
Periclimenes koroensis, Mushroom coral shrimp, female with eggs. Magic Bay, Rao, Indonesia
Periclimenes pedersoni Pederson's cleaning shrimp
Periclimenes pedersoni Pederson's cleaning shrimp 3 Belize
Periclimenes sarasvati Sarasvati Anemone Shrimp
Periclimenes sarasvati, Sarasvati Anemone Shrimp, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat IMG_6998
Periclimenes sarasvati, Sarasvati Anemone Shrimp
Periclimenes soror Sea star shrimp
Periclimenes soror Sea star shrimp
Periclimenes soror on Pincushion star, Lembeh Straits IMG_6480
Periclimenes soror
Pontonides ankeri Anker's whip coral shrimp
Pontonides ankeri Anker's whip coral shrimp, Raja Ampat IMG_9508
 on Cirripathes black coral , Taveuni, Fiji-4724 med res.jpg)
Pontonides ankeri Anker's whip coral shrimp on Cirripathes black coral , Taveuni, Fiji-4724
Pontonides species
Pontonides species, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat IMG_7691
Pontonides, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat IMG_7702
Urocaridella sp A
, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat med res.jpg)
Urocaridella sp A, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat
Urocaridella sp B
Urocaridella sp. Cleaner shrimp soliciting cardinal fish , House reef Paradise Taveuni IMG_9702
Urocaridella sp. B. House Reef, Paradise Taveuni, Fiji IMG_3999
Urocaridella sp. C.
 Raja Ampat West Papua IMG_0505 med res)
Urocaridella sp. C. Raja Ampat West Papua IMG_0505
Vir philippensis Bubble coral shrimp
Vir philippensis on bubble coral shrimp on bubble coral Raja Ampat IMG_9654
Vir philippensis on bubble coral
Unidentified shrimp
Unidentified shrimp, Loreto, Sea of Cortez IMG_6243