Spiny Tiger Shrimp

It is also known as Bongo shrimp or Bongo Bumblebee shrimp. It is related to the harlequin shrimp (both shrimps are in the family Hymenoceridae).

Description

It has a translucent white/cream body with lots tiny white spots and covered with orange blotches and blue spots. It has banded legs, claw arms and unusually long eyestalks. Max length is 2,5 cm.

Distribution

The Western Pacific from Okinawa south to Queensland, Australia.

Habitat and Biology

It feeds on asteroid sea stars as well as Ophuroids. While Harlequins drag starfish to their lair to butcher and eat them alive over the course of what could be several days, Spiny Tiger Shrimps are more humble in their quarry. They feed on brittle stars, small ones that they can consume top to toe right there and then. They seem to use their two front spike like maxillipeds to constantly pierce the sea star until it surrenders, then start consuming the brittle legs and all.