Strange Shrimp

Wed, Feb 24th, 2010 | Marine Life, Places, Adventures 28 Comments

Does anyone have insight into what’s going on with this shrimp?

shrimp

The first thing I thought was: “Eggs”, but upon reflection, I realised that every shrimp egg I’ve ever seen has been round, not oblong.

Also, the oblong things seem to be sticking out from the shrimp’s head as well as its abdominal area…again, not something generally associated with eggs.

But I’m at a loss as to what the oblong things might be if they’re not eggs.

Help?

shrimp

Tags: Alpheus frontalis, Indonesia, Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Rhizocephalan, Shrimp, Thompsonia sp.

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Juanhui

Not sure what they are but am guessing that they’re some kind of parasite infestation. Reminds me a bit of the egg sacs parasitic barnacles that we see on some crabs… except that the ones I’ve seen are yellow rather than red

http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/ciriipedia/thompsonia.htm
Juanhui

Not sure what they are but am guessing that they’re some kind of parasite infestation. Reminds me a bit of the egg sacs parasitic barnacles that we see on some crabs… except that the ones I’ve seen are yellow rather than red

http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/ciriipedia/thompsonia.htm
http://www.OceanRealmImages.com Richard Smith

I was going to say it looks like a parasite too. Some parasites alter the behaviour of the host to increase transmission to the next stage of the life cycle. I have never seen this shrimp wandering about before so maybe the parasite is trying to get the shrimp eaten by a fish or something so the life cycle can continue. A great/terrifying book about how parasites rule the world is called Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer. It explains heaps of crazy behaviours that parasites make their host do to aid transmission.
http://www.OceanRealmImages.com Richard Smith

I was going to say it looks like a parasite too. Some parasites alter the behaviour of the host to increase transmission to the next stage of the life cycle. I have never seen this shrimp wandering about before so maybe the parasite is trying to get the shrimp eaten by a fish or something so the life cycle can continue. A great/terrifying book about how parasites rule the world is called Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer. It explains heaps of crazy behaviours that parasites make their host do to aid transmission.
tan heok hui

definitely parasitic infestation. the oval sacs are the eggs. this barnacle parasite (as highlighted by Juanhui) resides within the tissue and bodily space of the host, emasculates the host by taking over all the unneccesary organs to keep the host alive. when its time to procreate, it will form these egg sacs and eventually burst, releasing the eggs. the poor host will then die off.
tan heok hui

definitely parasitic infestation. the oval sacs are the eggs. this barnacle parasite (as highlighted by Juanhui) resides within the tissue and bodily space of the host, emasculates the host by taking over all the unneccesary organs to keep the host alive. when its time to procreate, it will form these egg sacs and eventually burst, releasing the eggs. the poor host will then die off.
http://underwa.ter.net Cor

It looks like a species of snapping shrimp.
http://underwa.ter.net Cor

It looks like a species of snapping shrimp.
http://www.tonywublog.com Tony

Thanks everyone! So weird, but so totally cool. Not for the shrimp of course.
http://www.tonywublog.com Tony

Thanks everyone! So weird, but so totally cool. Not for the shrimp of course.
alex mustard

Very weird and very cool.
alex mustard

Very weird and very cool.
http://www.scubacam.com.sg David Cheung

“fascinating captain – its life but not as we know it”…..great find Tony. Now I have nightmares knowing I will be swimming into these waters with these parasites soon.
http://www.scubacam.com.sg David Cheung

“fascinating captain – its life but not as we know it”…..great find Tony. Now I have nightmares knowing I will be swimming into these waters with these parasites soon.
http://www.scubacam.com.sg David Cheung

Oh not the mention I am off the prawns for life….
http://www.scubacam.com.sg David Cheung

Oh not the mention I am off the prawns for life….
http://deepseanews.com Kevin Z

I don’t think it is Rhizocephala. That is not the typical pattern for infection. There is a centralized nucleus with root-like infection. It could be a type of parasitic copepod, they can lay strings of eggs after burrowing into the carapace. They go for the eyes in fish.
http://deepseanews.com Kevin Z

I don’t think it is Rhizocephala. That is not the typical pattern for infection. There is a centralized nucleus with root-like infection. It could be a type of parasitic copepod, they can lay strings of eggs after burrowing into the carapace. They go for the eyes in fish.
http://www.tonywublog.com tony

Kevin: Very interesting. So perhaps a different type of parasite, but a parasite nonetheless
http://www.tonywublog.com tony

Kevin: Very interesting. So perhaps a different type of parasite, but a parasite nonetheless
Leslie Harris

Nope, Juanhui & Tan are right in that it’s a rhizocephalan. Check out this pic by Art Anker of Peltogasterella – http://www.flickr.com/photos/artour_a/1951573717/
Leslie Harris

Nope, Juanhui & Tan are right in that it’s a rhizocephalan. Check out this pic by Art Anker of Peltogasterella – http://www.flickr.com/photos/artour_a/1951573717/
Leslie Harris

I knew Art would be interested & sent him an email. He promptly checked it out – Alpheus frontalis with a rhizocephalan, possibly Thompsonia sp.
Leslie Harris

I knew Art would be interested & sent him an email. He promptly checked it out – Alpheus frontalis with a rhizocephalan, possibly Thompsonia sp.
http://www.tonywublog.com tony

That’s awesome Leslie. Thank you so much!
http://www.tonywublog.com tony

That’s awesome Leslie. Thank you so much!
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