THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

68 A Docent Field Guide to the Species of the Steinhart Aquarium
Remarks: Large peacock mantis shrimp
generate forces powerful enough to crush the
shell of a large conch, and have been known
in captivity to break the glass of their tanks!
The amazingly complex eyes of mantis shrimp
detect 12 base colors (compared to our 3).
They also can discern ultraviolet, infrared
frequencies, and the polarization of light!
Mantis shrimps are popular ingredients in
Japanese and Cantonese dishes.
Divers note that they are very active and
curious.
It should be no surprise that, in most aquaria,
this fellow lives alone!
ORDER DECAPODA
(CRABS, SHRIMPS, LOBSTERS, ETC.)
Pistol Shrimp
Alpheus sp. (Alpheidae)
Distribution: Maldive Islands to Great Barrier
Reef, Australia.
Habitat: Sand, 5-40 m.
Appearance: Length to 3 cm. Like all pistol or
snapping shrimp of the family Alpheidae, have
asymmetrical claws, with the larger capable of
producing a remarkably loud snapping sound.
Diet: Fairly omnivorous; algal and animal
material.
Reproduction and Development: Like all
shrimp, sexes are separate. After mating the
female carries the eggs beneath the abdomen
on modified swimmerets.
Remarks: Many pistol species in this genus live
in association with a burrow-guarding goby
species, as in this tank. The shrimp maintains
contact with the goby with its antennae, the
goby alerts the poor-sighted shrimp to danger,
and both shelter in their shared burrow.
Shrimp use their snap to ward off trespassers
and to stun prey, such as small crabs. Claws
close with incredible speed, generating a
powerful water stream that travels up to 100
km/hour creating a low-pressure bubble in its
wake. As the pressures equilibrate, the bubble
bursts with a sonic bang.
One source noted that when many pistol
shrimp are “shooting” at the same time, the
sound can be so loud that sonar used to seek
submarines is useless.
If a snapping shrimp loses its over-sized claw,
the small claw grows into the new snapping
claw while the missing limb regenerates into
a small claw.
Wood Shrimp
Atyopsis moluccensis (Atyidae)
Basket Shrimps
Distribution: Southeast Asia.
Habitat: Freshwater streams in areas with
driftwood, caves and vegetation for hiding
places.
Appearance: Max. size: 12 cm. Most
individuals are brownish with a lighter strip
down the back, though color is variable with
surroundings and mood, Males have larger
and thicker forelegs than females. The species
lacks pincers; chelae have evolved instead
into fan-like appendages tipped with tufts
of long bristles used for gathering small food
particles.
Diet: Suspension feeder; uses specialized
appendages to filter food and then wipes
appendages across mouth.
Reproduction: Difficult to breed in captivity.
Remarks: Because of it large size, the wood
shrimp is rarely a prey item for small fish, and
so an attractive and intriguing addition to our
tank of Borneo freshwater fishes
Black and Red Bee Shrimp
Caridina cf. Cantonensis (Atyidae)
Distribution: Southern China, still found in
the wild in South Eastern Asia. It is a popular
choice for aquarium hobbyists.
Habitat: A fresh water fish, it prefers soft acidic
water.
Appearance: The bee shrimp has bands of
black and white; the red bee shrimp has red
and white. Some have been selectively bred
over time to increase the amount and intensity
of the white. Adult size: 1 in to 1.2 in.
Diet: Omnivore. Algae eaters by nature, the
bee shrimp will eat naturally occurring algae
in the home aquarium and are happy with
supplements.
Reproduction: When the female’s ovaries
are developed, she will shed her skin and
pheromones to the water. The sexually mature
males will overtake her, flipping around and
furiously whamming her tail. The winner