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Spiny golden shrimp

Distribution : Mediterranean

The golden coral shrimp’s long white antennae may protrude from a fissure before its body appears. It sometimes shares the space with fish. Its activity is easier to follow when it moves near the refuge entrance, particularly as night falls.

Habitat of Spiny golden shrimp Habitat
Rocky habitat, Coralligenous habitat
Depth range of Spiny golden shrimp Depth
1.5-690 m
Biological group of Spiny golden shrimp Group
Ecological role of Spiny golden shrimp Role
Predator

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

This shrimp can reach around seven and a half centimetres. The yellow to orange, sometimes golden-red body is covered in small forward-pointing spines. The rostrum, the toothed head projection, is straight. Very long antennae are white with orange bases.

The large orange claws with pale tips belong to the third pair of legs. The first two pairs carry much smaller claws. The overall outline differs from transparent prawns or striped Monaco shrimps.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

It uses fissures, caves and cavities on hard seabeds, including coralligenous habitats. It may cling to a wall or ceiling rather than walking on a horizontal bottom. At night, it can emerge close to its hiding place.

It lives in the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic. Although divers mainly see it in accessible rocky refuges, records also exist from great depths. An account limited to diving encounters therefore does not describe its full depth range.

WHAT DOES IT EAT?

Available observations report small animals and food remains in its diet. It can also clean fish. The precise proportions of these resources are less well documented than its appearance.

Observed cleaning and the material consumed need distinguishing: seeing a shrimp pick something from a fish does not always identify a particular parasite. Merely occupying a moray’s hole is not enough to demonstrate feeding either.

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Spiny golden shrimp

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