Pretty Snapping Shrimp, Tiger Snapping Shrimp – Alpheus bellulus

, Pretty Snapping Shrimp, Tiger Snapping Shrimp, Alpheus bellulus
Depth: 2 - 18 m

Afghanistan, Alaska, Algeria, Andaman and Nicobar, Angola, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Arctic, Argentina, Ascension Island, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores Islands, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Cocos Islands, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Corsica Island, Crete Island, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, El Salvador, England, Equatorial Guinea, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, Galapagos Islands, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira Islands, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, North Korea, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Saint Martin, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sardinia Island, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Sicily Island, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uruguay, US Minor Islands, USA, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Amvrakikos Gulf, Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Aral Sea, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Barents Sea, Bay of Bengal, Bay of Biscay, Beaufort Sea, Bering Sea, Black Sea, Bohai Sea, Cantabrian Sea, Celtic Sea, Chukchi Sea, Coral Sea, Dead Sea, English Channel, German Bight, Great Barrier Reef, Greenland Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Fonseca, Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Halmahera Sea, Iberian Sea, Indian Ocean, Java Sea, Korinthiakos Gulf, Labrador Sea, Levantine Sea, Lingayan Gulf, Mediterranean Sea, Moro Gulf, Okhotsk Sea, Pacific Ocean, Pagassitikos Gulf, Salish Sea, Saronikos Gulf, Scotia Sea, Sea of Azov, Sea of Marmara, Siberian Sea, South China Sea, Southern Ocean, Thermaikos Gulf

The Pretty Snapping Shrimp, Tiger Snapping Shrimp, scientifically known as Alpheus bellulus, is a captivating crustacean found in the depths of the ocean. This species is characterized by its striking appearance and unique behavior, making it a fascinating subject for marine biologists and enthusiasts alike.

Description & Characteristics

Alpheus bellulus is a relatively small shrimp, with a maximum size reaching approximately 4 centimeters. Its body is typically adorned with vibrant colors, often featuring a combination of black, yellow, and white markings, giving it the distinctive appearance of a tiger. This species is most recognizable for its large, asymmetrical claws. One claw is significantly larger than the other and serves as a powerful snapping mechanism. The snapping sound produced by this claw is remarkably loud, reaching over 200 decibels, and can be heard over significant distances underwater.

Habitat and Occurrence

The Pretty Snapping Shrimp, Tiger Snapping Shrimp (Alpheus bellulus) prefers a variety of marine habitats, including the subtidal, sublittoral, infralittoral, and deep zones of the ocean. This species can be found from the lower limit of the intertidal zone down to the shelf edge at about 200 m water depth. Its range encompasses neritic zones, showcasing its adaptability to various marine environments.

Taxonomy

The species Alpheus bellulus belongs to the class Malacostraca, which encompasses a vast array of crustaceans with segmented bodies and multiple pairs of legs. Within this class, it is further categorized within the order Decapoda, a group that includes crabs, lobsters, and shrimp, all distinguished by their ten walking legs. Lastly, Alpheus bellulus is classified within the family Alpheidae, a family of snapping shrimp known for their powerful claws and characteristic snapping sound.

Feeding

The Pretty Snapping Shrimp, Tiger Snapping Shrimp (Alpheus bellulus) is a carnivorous species that primarily feeds on small invertebrates. Its diet consists of various organisms, including brine shrimps, mysids, and zoobenthos. The snapping claw plays a crucial role in its feeding strategy, allowing it to stun or kill prey before consuming it.

Associated Species

Image References

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