WHATSTHATFISH
Crustaceans

Red Claw Cuapetes Shrimp

Cuapetes tenuipes

Also known as: Carid Shrimp, Commensal Shrimp, Invisible Shrimp, Ghost Shrimp, Glass Shrimp, Long-arm Shrimp, Red-scissor Commensal Shrimp, Thin-arm Shrimp, Thin-armed Shrimp, Transparent Commensal Shrimp

Adult
@fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · February 20071 / 12
01

Overview

Found in colonies, over sandy bottoms and down holes, living commensally with the smashing mantis shrimp, and sometime sea anemones. Almost completely transparent, except for a few brown lines, with very long arms and red claws.

Often if a divers hand is near to a cleaner shrimps, they will hop on board and perform a manicure!

Carid shrimps occur worldwide in almost every habitat, from sea water to fresh water and can be found all over the reef.
They are generally respected by other creatures, often sharing burrows and holes and working as housekeepers.
They will wave their antennae around to attract customers, they then proceed to clean outside and inside the creatures mouths, gills etc,.

02

How to identify

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 12
LIVES IN

Found in colonies, over sandy bottoms and down holes, living commensally with the smashing mantis shrimp, and sometime sea anemones.

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Adult photos 12

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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. genusCuapetes
    7. speciesCuapetes tenuipes (Borradaile, 1898)

    SourcesWoRMS

    06

    More in the family

    Shrimps (Palaemonidae)