ANIMAL: Sexy/Squat Shrimp Thor amboinensis Type of Animal: Anemone Shrimp Habitat: Reefs w/ anemones/corals, lagoons w/ anemones/large-polyp stony corals, areas w/ gentle to moderate water movement, coastal areas, found at depths of 1.64-98.425 ft & prefer water temps of 71.6-82 F Location(s): Indo-Pacific, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, W Atlantic from Florida to Brazil, Canary Islands, Madeira, W Pacific, E Pacific from Costa Rica to Easter Island Appearance: Olive brown to reddish-brown color w/ symmetrically placed white patches/spots often edged w/ thin blue lines, often carries tail fan above head, females larger than males Food/Diet: Anemone mucus, anemone tentacles, zooplankton, brine shrimp, detritus, algae, mysid shrimp, krill, ciliates, nori, zoanthid corals Status in Wild: Stable Lifestyle: Colonies of 3-20 shrimp Additional Info: Called: Male Female Young: Larva/Parva Group: Colony Gestation: 3.5 weeks Life Span: 3-3.5 years Body Length: Male: 0.6 in Female: 0.78 in Main predators are triggerfish, hawkfish, wrasses, angelfish, harlequin bass, lionfish, fairy basslets, cardinalfish, & anemonefish/clownfish. These shrimp all born as males, w/ larger more dominant males becoming females. Larvae hatch after 3.5 weeks drifting in ocean currents for 1st month of life & undergoing 10-12 larval stages since they molt every 2-3 days. Larvae become juveniles at 1.5-2 months old. Females produce 100-500 eggs per spawn & spawn w/ multiple males. Will utilize coral hosts if anemones not available. Shrimps have acclimation period before settling on anemone host-some studies say that shrimp collects anemone mucus camouflaging itself & others say that they acclimate by building up chemicals inhibiting excretions of stinging nematocysts from anemones. Host anemones selected by using visual/chemical cues. These shrimp will share anemone hosts w/ other shrimp species, crabs, & brittle stars. Relationships between anemones/shrimp commensal w/ shrimp benefiting from protection & anemone neither being harmed nor benefited. They do keep anemones clean from mucus. These shrimp have been observed picking parasites off carapaces of mantis shrimp. They’ll vibrate abdomen to signal/warn others. Fun Fact(s): When fleeing predators, they swim backwards by curling/uncurling abdomen. Can move 5.9 in per second to escape perceived threats. Called Sexy Shrimp due to way they sway abdomen back & forth when walking. Also called Sexy Anemone Shrimp, Squat Anemone Shrimp, High-Tailed Shrimp, Ambonian Shrimp, Amboin Shrimp, Carid Shrimp, Bold-Spotted Anemone Shrimp, Dancing Shrimp, Commensal Shrimp, Popcorn Shrimp, Sex Pistol Shrimp, Hump-Backed Shrimp, Sexy Pistol Shrimp, White-Saddled Shrimp, & Commensal Anemone Shrimp.
