Alpheus deuteropus or the petroglyph shrimp is a snapper or pistol shrimp in the family Alpheidae. It lives on coral reefs in tropical parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans and in the Red Sea, as a commensal of corals such as Porites lobata. Its presence among the lobes leaves tunnels, cracks and grooves in the surface.[2]

Alpheus deuteropus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Caridea
Family: Alpheidae
Genus: Alpheus
Species:
A. deuteropus
Binomial name
Alpheus deuteropus

Like other snapper shrimp, one of the chelipeds is much bigger than the other and is modified to make an explosive clicking noise. The body is only slightly laterally compressed and does not have a crest on the carapace. There is an orbital hood surrounding the eyes. Male shrimp can grow to 3 centimetres (1.2 in).[3]

References edit

  1. ^ Sammy De Grave (2010). "Alpheus deuteropus Hilgendorf, 1879". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  2. ^ Marine Life Profile: Lobe Coral Archived 2011-10-18 at the Wayback Machine Waikïkï Aquarium. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  3. ^ The genus Alpheus Fabricius 1798 Alpheid shrimp database. Retrieved December 20, 2011.