Fine-striped Snapping Shrimp

Alpheus ochrostriatus

Also known as Alpheus ochrostriata, Alpheus sp., Snapping Shrimps, Alpheid Shrimps, Goby Shrimps, Pistol Shrimps, Yellow Bulldozer Shrimp and Yellow-lined Pistol Shrimp. Found usually in pairs in shallow water on coral and rocky reefs, in estuaries and harbours. They live close to their holes that they share with various gobies of the genus Amblyeleotris and Cryptocentrus.
Blind Faith! This Snapping Shrimp and the Goby has a symbiosis relationship with the Snapping Shrimp building and maintaining a burrow while the Goby uses the burrow the Shrimps build as their home. The Gobies usually stands guard at the entrance of the burrow and feeds on passing 'food' when currents comes in while at the same time, signalling to the Shrimp with it's tail whether it is 'safe' for the Shrimp to come out of the burrow when it is maintaining the burrow by removing sands. The Shrimps are blind and uses their antennae to communicate with the Gobies to get 'safe clearance' to approach the entrance of the burrow each time they removes debris/sands. Alpheus ochrostriatus,Anilao,Batangas,Fine-Striped Snapping Shrimp,Philippines,Shrimp,Snapping Shrimp

Appearance

Length - 5cm
Depth - 5-20m
'The ever faithful pistol shrimp' (Alpheus ochrostriatus) Air Prang, Lembeh. Here in the good company of its partner watch-dog goby Amblyeleotris periophthalma (just as in this reference: https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2013/1/fish) In quoting the reference: <It is quite common to observe these gobies watching the burrow entrance, in strict physical contact with the shrimp's antenna, while he approaches the surface to eliminate the material excavated from the burrow. Shrimp's eyes, used to the burrow's darkness, are almost blind out of the hole and the he could be a too-easy prey without the protection and the continuous surveillance of the goby. On the other hand, the goby is not able to dig a hole by itself, and if a burrow not well maintained would collapse in a very short time. When a danger approaches, the goby first signals it to the shrimp by flippering the caudal fin. If the danger gets worst, the goby turns rapidly escaping inside the burrow> And it is not because is blind that it is not a toughie as it has a claw that uses to deliver forceful punch "like a pistol, to snap shut whenever necessary" -> More interesting facts on pistol shrimps here: https://www.leisurepro.com/blog/explore-the-blue/pump-volume-pistol-shrimp/ Alpheus ochrostriatus,Fine-striped Snapping Shrimp,Geotagged,Indonesia,Spring

Distribution

Widespread Indo-West Pacific.

Behavior

Snapping Shrimps usually share their holes with various Gobies. While the shrimps dig out their holes the gobies stand guard, as the shrimps vision is poor they usually keep one antennae in contact with their goby partner.
Snapping Shrimps have a large claw, which they are able to snap, giving a load cracking noise and at the same time this produces a large jet of water, used in defence to either deter or to knock out their prey.

Food

They feed nocturnally on tiny invertebrates and zooplankton.

References:

Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.

https://www.whatsthatfish.com/fish/finestriped-snapping-shrimp/1256
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=549781
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassMalacostraca
OrderDecapoda
FamilyAlpheidae
GenusAlpheus
SpeciesAlpheus ochrostriatus
Photographed in
Indonesia
Philippines