Help me to ID this shrimp. Thanks

[wahlaoeh]

Hi,

Found this anemone shrimp during a dive in Gorontalo, North Sulawesi. My dive buddy went through all her reef books but couldn't find an ID for something similar, noticed the unique hump on the shrimp.

http://sg.homeunix.com/jovin/Gorontalo-Nov-06/Anemone_shrimp_6

Pls help to ID.Thanks.

Jovin-

 

[DennisW]

The "hump" on the shrimp is not part of the shrimp. It's a parasite. I can't ID the shrip or the parasite, because the area is out of my expertise, but the difference is obvious. I have seen these on pictures posted here before. Someone here will be able to ID this for you.

BTW, nice picture, thanks for sharing.

 

[wahlaoeh]

Thanks Dennis. If that hump is a parasite (which looked pretty cool), then the shrimp must be a Periclimenes cf. tosaensis, just like this one.

http://sg.homeunix.com/jovin/Gorontalo-Nov-06/Anemone_shrimp_4

Jovin-

 

[DennisW]

I believe you are correct. Someone will id the parasite.

 

[LeslieH]

P. tosaensis is restricted to the south China Sea if I remember right. The one you have appears to be P. sarasvati which was recently described and is the one more commonly found in areas like Sulawesi. I've sent off your image to a shrimp expert in the hope he can identify the parasite.

 

[wahlaoeh]

Hi Leslie,

You're right I remember now Ranje has told us that they are sarasvati shrimps.
Thanks for sending the pix. Hope we can find out what that funky parasite is.

Jovin-

 

[LeslieH]

Hi Jovin -- Well, the shrimp parasite is baffling the experts so far. Do you have any other images of it? Can you send me hi-res versions or post them on your website for viewing? I'd like to start a thread about it on a crustacean researcher site in the hope a parasite specialist will take an interest.

 

[LeslieH]

I found your beastie. It's an isopod in the family Dajidae, a group of ectoparasites. If you enlarge your image you'll see a cluster of small articulated legs at the head (left) end. This is a female. The males are tiny & apparently live inside the females. Here's an image of a different species:
http://images.google.com/imgres?img...-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=Y1z&sa=N

I'd still like to get a hi-res file if you don't mind, preferrably with your name & copyright notice. It's definitely the best UW image around!

 

[wahlaoeh]

Hi Leslie,

Thanks so much. I'll go thru' my pixs tonight to see if I can find you a better image.
I'll send them via PM to you.

Jovin-