Dr. Kelly Swing, USA
Info
Gnathophyllum panamense Faxon, 1893
Very special thanks for the first photo of Gnathophyllum panamense to Dr. Kelly Swing, USA
The Cortez shrimp, Gnathophyllum panamense (Faxon, 1893), is a member of the family Palaemonidae, also known as the spotted bumblebee shrimp and as in Mexico. The English name "Cortez Barrel Shrimp" comes from one of the occurrences where the shrimp is found, the "Sea of Cortez" in German the "Gulf of California".
Bumblebee shrimp are easily identified because of their unique colors, their thick cylindrical body is black with scattered orange spots and numerous white specks.
The tail and claws are whitish and the walking legs are purple. the shrimp reach a length of about 2.5 cm.
Gnathophyllum panamense is a nocturnal creature, hiding under rocks or in crevices during the day, where they blend in well with their surroundings.
At night they emerge and become voracious omnivores, feeding on a variety of organisms and plant materials, including the tube feet of sea urchins. They also act as cleaner shrimp, removing parasites and dead skin from fish on a reciprocal basis.
Habitat:
The shrimp prefers benthic areas in intertidal to subtidal zones with sandy bottoms and silt accumulations with many large, loose rocks that provide cover for a variety of benthic organisms.
Cortez Barrel Shrimp are residents of the Pacific Ocean and occur throughout the Sea of Cortez and south along the mainland coast to Guatemala, but are not considered common anywhere.
Very special thanks for the first photo of Gnathophyllum panamense to Dr. Kelly Swing, USA
The Cortez shrimp, Gnathophyllum panamense (Faxon, 1893), is a member of the family Palaemonidae, also known as the spotted bumblebee shrimp and as in Mexico. The English name "Cortez Barrel Shrimp" comes from one of the occurrences where the shrimp is found, the "Sea of Cortez" in German the "Gulf of California".
Bumblebee shrimp are easily identified because of their unique colors, their thick cylindrical body is black with scattered orange spots and numerous white specks.
The tail and claws are whitish and the walking legs are purple. the shrimp reach a length of about 2.5 cm.
Gnathophyllum panamense is a nocturnal creature, hiding under rocks or in crevices during the day, where they blend in well with their surroundings.
At night they emerge and become voracious omnivores, feeding on a variety of organisms and plant materials, including the tube feet of sea urchins. They also act as cleaner shrimp, removing parasites and dead skin from fish on a reciprocal basis.
Habitat:
The shrimp prefers benthic areas in intertidal to subtidal zones with sandy bottoms and silt accumulations with many large, loose rocks that provide cover for a variety of benthic organisms.
Cortez Barrel Shrimp are residents of the Pacific Ocean and occur throughout the Sea of Cortez and south along the mainland coast to Guatemala, but are not considered common anywhere.
