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Family: Alpheidae
Snapping Shrimp
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Bocas Species Database Habitat: Alpheus nuttingi is a species commonly observed in the Caribbean. It favors sandy bottom habitats with coral, rocks and the presence of Thalassia species (seagrass). It is also found in crevices of rocks, among sandy reefs and in Halimeda species (green macroalgae). Distribution: This species has been reported from the Western Atlantic in Southern Florida, Mexico and from the Caribbean to southern Brazil. Natural History Notes: The species Alpheus nuttingi consists in fact of a three-species complex. Alpheus nuttingi in the only species found in the western Atlantic, whereas the two other species, Alpheus galapagensis and Alpheus millsae (new species), are found in the eastern Pacific. A study conducted by Anker, Hurt and Knowlton (2007), were able to clearly separate those three species using different approaches such as morphology, photos of living specimens, ecological data and genetic analyses. The genetic analyses showed that A. nuttingi and A. millsae are sister transisthmian species and that A. galapagensis forms their sister clade. It is believed that the three species would have diverged just before the closure of the Isthmus of Panama. For A. millsae and A. galapagensis, which are both found on the eastern Pacific, it was shown that although they both live in the intertidal, A. millsae is found at greater depths. This could suggest the possibility of ecological speciation. Those genetic analyses confirmed the results of a previous study conducted on Alpheid shrimps (William et al. 2001). Depth: Present in the intertidal to about 5 m. Characteristics: Alpheus nuttingi has a body length around 35 mm. This shrimp species has a coloration pattern that is composed of a greenish body, covered with scattered pale yellow to greenish spots that sometimes interconnect to form linear pattern. Then, the sides of the carapace are pale green to whitish and the legs are reddish with some white spots on the articulations. We can also distinguish two brown spots on the third and fourth abdominal somites (division of the body) and sometimes, another dark brown spot on the mediodorsal part of the fifth abdominal somite. The two claws, major and minor chela, are green-brown colored with white spots and patches, especially on the fingers. The coloration of the juveniles is overall paler. The ovigerous females will exhibit orange eggs. Notes: Alpheus nuttingi is usually found living in pairs. Contrarily to other species of this genus, A. nuttingi is not known to be associated with other animals such as corals and anemones. |