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Phylum Arthropoda > Subphylum Crustacea > Class Malacostraca > Order Decapoda > prawns and shrimps >
Family Palaemonidae
Tiny carpet anemone shrimp
Periclimenes sp.*
Family Palaemonidae
updated Jan 2020
Where seen? This tiny shrimp is often seen in Haddon's carpet anemones (Stichodactyla haddoni) on our Northern shores, including small anemones less than 10cm in diameter. One anemone may have 10 or more of these tiny shrimps! They are more active at night, when they move about on the surface of the sea anemone. They are rarely seen during the day.

Studies of some specimens found at Chek Jawa, Pulau Semakau and the Singapore Straits identified them as Periclimenes cf. obscurus. But this is suspected to be a species complex that contains more than one species and a more detailed study is required to identify them more precisely.

Features: To about 1cm. Almost completely transparent. Some with a dark stripe along the body length and blue eyes.

Pulau Sekudu, Jun 05

Eggs seen through the transparent body!


Changi, Apr 05

Size in comparison to carpet anemone

Changi, Apr 05

*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.

Tiny carpet anemone shrimps on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores


Pulau Semakau, Nov 09
Photo shared by Geraldine Lee on her blog.

Pulau Ubin, Dec 09
Photo shared by James Koh on his blog.

References
  • Veron Pwa Keay Hoon & Jin-Ho Park. 30 November 2020. New record of shrimp, Periclimenes cf. obscurus, on carpet anemone. Singapore Biodiversity Records 2020: 204-205. The National University of Singapore.
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