Amethyst shrimp (Periclimenes amethysteus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Periclimenes amethysteus
- Common name
- Amethyst shrimp
- Category
- Crustaceans
- Family
- Palaemonidae
- Genus
- Periclimenes
- Size
- 1–3 cm
- Depth
- 5–30 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, symbiotic, cleaner
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Mediterranean
Description
Periclimenes amethysteus reaches 3 cm. Very small shrimp (Palaemonidae) Mediterranean with near-transparent body with characteristic purple-amethyst and electric-blue spots on back (hence amethysteus). Lives commensally with anemones (Anemonia viridis, Aiptasia mutabilis) and Med coralligenous. Accessory fish cleaner. Lives from 5 to 30 m on rocky reefs of Mediterranean. Med cousin of numerous Indo-Pacific Periclimenes (P. imperator batch 12, P. brevicarpalis, etc.). Sought-after macro photo subject for amethyst translucent colors.
Photo of Amethyst shrimp
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Amethyst shrimp?
- Amethyst shrimp (Periclimenes amethysteus) reaches 1–3 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Amethyst shrimp?
- Amethyst shrimp is found between 5–30 m deep.
- Is the Amethyst shrimp dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Amethyst shrimp?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Amethyst shrimp?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Mediterranean.
Other species in the genus Periclimenes
- Periclimenes yucatanicus - Spotted cleaner shrimp
- Periclimenes imperator - Emperor shrimp
- Periclimenes scriptus - Inscribed shrimp
Other species in the family Palaemonidae
- Ancylomenes pedersoni - Pederson's cleaner shrimp
- Hymenocera picta - Harlequin shrimp
- Palaemon elegans - Rockpool prawn
- Phyllognathia ceratophthalma - Indo-Pacific Mandarin Shrimp
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 107627)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2225213)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia