A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Rhynchocinetes durbanensis
Also known as Rock & Hingebeak Shrimp, Durban Shrimp, Durban Dancing Shrimp, Red Hingebeak Shrimp, Hinge-back Shrimp, Peppermint Hinge-back Shrimp, Candy Shrimp, Camelback Shrimp, Camel Shrimp, Humpback Shrimp, Durban Hingebeak Prawn. They feed on parasites, algae and plankton, and grow to a length of about 4cm. Hingebeak shrimp are distinguished by a movable rostrum or beak that is usually angled upwards. It is often seen moving around with sudden stops, hence the name "Dancing Shrimp." It has a variable pattern of red and white stripes on its body.
Found in large groups in rocky outcrops, under overhangs and among coral rubble. In this series, an army of hingebeak shrimp were spotted under an old wood. Widespread in the Indo-Pacific region.
At a depth of about 25 feet, an army of hingebeak shrimp live together with other types of shrimp and other marine life. They were all on, in and around a huge old wood. In the 3rd photo, it looks like there was a face-off between fish and shrimp!
Spotted on Jan 28, 2012
Submitted on Jan 28, 2012
2 Comments
They populate the "cleaning stations" where the reef fish come in to be cleaned of parasites!...therefor no face-off but a symbiotic encounter!
Striking how widespread they are from the Micronesian waters in the North down to the South African waters in the South!