WHATSTHATFISH
Crustaceans

Harlequin Shrimp

Hymenocera picta

Also known as: Clown Shrimp, Dancing Shrimp, Orchid Shrimp, Painted Dancing Shrimp, Painted Harlequin Shrimp, Painted Shrimp

Adult
@blogie · Dayang Beach Dive Site, Talikud Island, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines · January 20121 / 3
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Overview

Found in pairs on algae and sponges, over coral and rocky reefs, rarely moves far from the same spot.
They feed on sea stars by flipping over their prey and eating a leg at a time. Very occasionally they flip over sea urchins and eat their tubed feet.

Hymenocera picta, commonly known as Harlequin Shrimp, is a species of saltwater shrimp found at coral reefs in the tropical Indian and Pacific oceans. It is usually considered the only species in the genus Hymenocera, but some split it into two species: H. picta from the central and east Pacific where the spots are deep pinkish-purple with a yellow edge, and H. elegans from the Indian Ocean and west Pacific where the spots are more brownish and have a blue edge. They reach about 5cm in length, live in pairs and feed exclusively on starfish, including the crown-of-thorns sea star.

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How to identify

COLOURS
Behaviour
pairs

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Exact location · 1
  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found in pairs on algae and sponges, over coral and rocky reefs, rarely moves far from the same spot.

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Adult photos 3

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumArthropoda
    3. classMalacostraca
    4. orderDecapoda
    5. familyPalaemonidae
    6. genusHymenocera
    7. speciesHymenocera picta Dana, 1852

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    07

    More in the family

    Shrimps (Palaemonidae)