Banded Coral Shrimp

ID points

• Alternating red and white bands cover the claws and the body
• One pair of claws is especially large and spiny
• Two long white antennae, longer than the body itself

Basics

Family

Stenopodidae

Length

5–8 cm

Depth

1-40 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs · Caribbean & W. Atlantic

Distribution

Tropical coral reefs worldwide

Diet

Parasites, detritus

Easily confused with

Cleaner ShrimpA white stripe down the middle of the back, bright red on either sidePeppermint ShrimpFine red stripes on a translucent body, like a peppermint sweetShrimp GobySeveral broad orange bars on a white ground

Fun fact

The Banded Coral Shrimp is known for its bold red and white bands and extremely long white antennae. It sets up a cleaning station in a coral crevice and picks parasites and dead tissue off passing fish, an indispensable barber in the reef ecosystem.