Snapping Shrimp and March Critter List

This week I finally managed to get some nice video of a rarely seen shrimp, Stimpson’s Snapping Shrimp.

Now I said that they are rarely seen, but they may not be that rare (at least here in Lembeh). They are rarely seen as they live out of sight, on the under-side of crinoids.

Crinoids, or Feather Stars (as they are also known) are echinoderms. There are many of them in Lembeh, but these shrimp seem mainly to live under the orange coloured ones.

You (or rather the guides who can do this without harming the crinoid) can very carefully turn the crinoids upside-down to see these wonderful critters.

They are called ‘snapping’ Shrimp, as they can ‘snap’ their large pincers to create a loud noise. As you can see, one pincer is always much larger than the other. You can also see that it can be either the left or right pincer that is the large one. This pair has one partner with a larger left pincer and the other with a large right pincer. Why this is the case, I have no idea.

When the claw snaps shut, a jet of water shoots out from a special hole, apparently at speeds up to 62mph (100kph), which generates a low-pressure bubble in it’s wake. As the pressure stabilizes, the bubble collapses and creates the loud bang. This stuns it’s prey. Now these shrimp in Lembeh do not seem to ‘snap’ very much, probably as they have such an abundant source of free nutrition floating past them in the water at all times.

Click here to see the video in a new window

Another month ends, so it’s time for the monthly Critter List

As usual, another fantastic month. Particularly good to see a lot of Harlequin Shrimp, as well as many Mimics, Wonderpus, Hairy Octopus, Frogfish of all types and lots of Seahorses!!!! Thanks March, it’s been great!!

Barb has recovered from her head cold and so has been back in the water this week. And she’s taken some more fantastic pictures.

And this week has been pretty great too. We seen Hairy Octopus, Mimics, Wonderpus, Coconut, Long Arm and Starry Night Octopus, as well as Broadclub, Pygmy, Giant and Flamboyant Cuttlefish, and there have been Pygmy and Bob Tail Squid. We’ve seen more Harlequin Shrimp, Tiger Shrimp, Urchin Bumble Bee Shrimp, Snapping Shrimp, Porcelain Carbs, Peacock Mantis, Golden Mantis, Skeleton Shrimp, Candy Crabs, Carry Crabs, Decorator Crabs, Sponge Leg Crabs, Harlequin Crabs, Squat Shrimp, Hairy Squat Lobster, Hidden Corallimorph Shrimp, Elegant Squat Lobster, Hairy Shrimp, Zebra Crabs, Xenia Shrimp, Xeno Crabs, Dragon Shrimp, Boxing Crabs, Mushroom Coral Shrimp, Tozeuma Shrimp, Cleaner Shrimp, Halimeda Crabs and many more. There have been Pegasus Sea Moths, Ambon Scorpionfish, Cockatoo Waspfish, Cockatoo Flounder, Leaf Scorpionfish, Crocodile Flatheads, Solar Powered Nudis, Melibe Nudis, Mandarinfish, Fingered and Orange and Black Dragonets, Long Horned Cowfish, Ribbon Eels, Sea Snakes, juvenile Barramundi Cod, juvenile Sweetlips, juvenile Circular Batfish and Electric Disco Clams. And there have been Yellow and Pink Bargabanti Pygmy Seahorses, Velvet, Ornate and Robust Ghost Pipefish, Lembeh Seadragons, Mushroom Coral Pipefish, Winged Pipefish, Thorny, Common and Estuary Seahorses and many Pipefish. And the frogfish have included Hairy, Giant, Painted, Warty and Occellated (Coin Bearing). Another good week.

Thanks to all our great guests from Canada, Australia, the States, Japan, Malaysia, the UK and New Zealand. We’ve had a great time.

And finally, thanks to Todd Winner who had his first trip to Lembeh and took some lovely photos of Neo, our  swimming cat…

To see all of Barb’s great photos this week, just click on the photo strip at the top or bottom of this blog

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