denise
03-30-2009, 11:06 PM
Shrimps are small crustaceans (like crabs (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=444), crayfish and lobsters (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=434)), that are found in many fresh and sea water habitats. There are more than 2,000 different species living worldwide. Most shrimp are nocturnal, they hide during the day, and emerge at night under the cover of darkness to hunt. As adults, most make their home close to or on the bottom, foraging on plants and small animals. In turn, shrimp are eaten by fish, birds (such as loons and flamingos), octopi (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=433), squid, seals and humans. They are a very important part of the food web in oceans; many baleen whales feed exclusively on shrimp.
Some shrimp live in schools, and other species live solitary lives.
Most can swim rapidly backwards, by flipping their fan-like tail, and this proves to be an excellent method of avoiding potential predators. Most shrimp are small, ranging from a fraction of an inch to about 10 inches long. A distinguishing characteristic is their long, hairlike antennae protruding from their head. Shrimp vary widely in color; the tropical varieties are the most brightly colored and patterned. They have ten pairs of legs (used for crawling, swimming and catching food), and most have well developed claws. Throughout their lifetime, shrimp molt, which means they lose their old protective shell and develop a new one.
Some amazing species of deep sea shrimp are indeed record holders: they can survive in unique areas that are the hottest in which life has ever been found at: hydrothermal vents. These shrimp manage to live at temperatures near boiling point; more than a mile beneath the surface of the sea! Hydrothermal vents emit plumes of superheated mineral rich-water, and are surrounded by frigid seawater. Somehow the chemistry of these shrimp allow them to happily survive in this hostile environment.
Worldwide, shrimp are widely caught and farmed for human consumption. More than a billion pounds of shrimp are consumed by Americans each year, and 5 billion pounds are eaten worldwide.
There are many types of shrimp spotted by divers around Florida's coastline.
One of the most common is the spotted cleaner shrimp, Periclimenes yucatanicus, a type of cleaner shrimp that makes its home amongst anemone tentacles. This individual is living amongst a giant anemone (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=452)
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/shrimp_22.jpg
Spotted cleaner shrimp, Periclimenes yucatanicus, Boynton Beach
Photo by Robert Palmer
Spotted cleaner shrimps sway their body and wave their antennae to attract fish towards them, and once there, the “clean” dead tissue, algae and parasites from them. This is a mutually beneficial relationship: the fish benefit by having parasites removed from them, and the shrimp gain the nutritional value of the parasites.
http://www.dayo.com/fishid/coralbandedshrimp_222.jpg
Banded coral shrimp, Stenopus hispidus, West Palm Beach.
This species is a common cleaner shrimp around Florida, that wait around coral reefs fish "clients". When not at their cleaning stations they hang upside down in crevices and holes, with only their antennae showing. Coral banded shrimps are probably the most widely distributed shrimps in the oceans.
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/shrimpsrob_1.jpg
Group of banded coral shrimp hanging under a ledge
http://www.dayo.com/fishid/pedersonshrimp_111.jpg
Pederson cleaner shrimp, Periclimenes pedersoni, Lantana Beach
The Pederson cleaner shrimp is also known as the anemone shrimp, as they often live in very close association with a variety of anemones. After luring fish with their antennas, they remove parasites from their bodies, even from inside their mouths!
http://www.dayo.com/images/forum/pedersoncleanershrimpdebbie_1.jpg
Closeup of the Pederson cleaner shrimp, Periclimenes pedersoni, West Palm Beach
Photo by Debbie Buck
Some shrimp live in schools, and other species live solitary lives.
Most can swim rapidly backwards, by flipping their fan-like tail, and this proves to be an excellent method of avoiding potential predators. Most shrimp are small, ranging from a fraction of an inch to about 10 inches long. A distinguishing characteristic is their long, hairlike antennae protruding from their head. Shrimp vary widely in color; the tropical varieties are the most brightly colored and patterned. They have ten pairs of legs (used for crawling, swimming and catching food), and most have well developed claws. Throughout their lifetime, shrimp molt, which means they lose their old protective shell and develop a new one.
Some amazing species of deep sea shrimp are indeed record holders: they can survive in unique areas that are the hottest in which life has ever been found at: hydrothermal vents. These shrimp manage to live at temperatures near boiling point; more than a mile beneath the surface of the sea! Hydrothermal vents emit plumes of superheated mineral rich-water, and are surrounded by frigid seawater. Somehow the chemistry of these shrimp allow them to happily survive in this hostile environment.
Worldwide, shrimp are widely caught and farmed for human consumption. More than a billion pounds of shrimp are consumed by Americans each year, and 5 billion pounds are eaten worldwide.
There are many types of shrimp spotted by divers around Florida's coastline.
One of the most common is the spotted cleaner shrimp, Periclimenes yucatanicus, a type of cleaner shrimp that makes its home amongst anemone tentacles. This individual is living amongst a giant anemone (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=452)
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/shrimp_22.jpg
Spotted cleaner shrimp, Periclimenes yucatanicus, Boynton Beach
Photo by Robert Palmer
Spotted cleaner shrimps sway their body and wave their antennae to attract fish towards them, and once there, the “clean” dead tissue, algae and parasites from them. This is a mutually beneficial relationship: the fish benefit by having parasites removed from them, and the shrimp gain the nutritional value of the parasites.
http://www.dayo.com/fishid/coralbandedshrimp_222.jpg
Banded coral shrimp, Stenopus hispidus, West Palm Beach.
This species is a common cleaner shrimp around Florida, that wait around coral reefs fish "clients". When not at their cleaning stations they hang upside down in crevices and holes, with only their antennae showing. Coral banded shrimps are probably the most widely distributed shrimps in the oceans.
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/shrimpsrob_1.jpg
Group of banded coral shrimp hanging under a ledge
http://www.dayo.com/fishid/pedersonshrimp_111.jpg
Pederson cleaner shrimp, Periclimenes pedersoni, Lantana Beach
The Pederson cleaner shrimp is also known as the anemone shrimp, as they often live in very close association with a variety of anemones. After luring fish with their antennas, they remove parasites from their bodies, even from inside their mouths!
http://www.dayo.com/images/forum/pedersoncleanershrimpdebbie_1.jpg
Closeup of the Pederson cleaner shrimp, Periclimenes pedersoni, West Palm Beach
Photo by Debbie Buck