Commensal shrimp on Ric Florida, cool observation

[Anthozoan]

I was diving on an orange Ricordea florida site, when I saw something that I'd never seen before. On a patch of orange ricordea polyps, I saw a very tiny shrimp living on the polyp disc. It measued no more than 1/4-1/3" long, and was clear except for a few whitish horizontal stripes on its back. It moved and looked a lot like a Pederson's shrimp, although it was much smaller and lacked the blue color. I've made scores of ricordea dives and never seen this before.

I'm thinking that it could be a juveile Pederson's shrimp (Perclimenes pedersoni) Pederson's shrimp

Maybe when the juveniles are young they will reside in whatever sort of anemone-like creature they can find, and then move to a bigger anemone (i.e. Condylactus) when they mature...?

or else maybe it is a different species of Periclimenes that specializes in ricordea polyps. It doesn't match any of the shrimps listed in Humann and DeLoach's ID book. Anyone have any info to share regarding this observation? Anyone have anemone shrimps living commensally with their corallimorphs? I wish I had had my camera with me, it would have made a killer macro shot, but alas not this time.

Cheers,
Colin

 

[Jimbo327]

How can you forget your camera?

You know you'll never find that shrimp again.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=956452&highlight=50+tub

Check out the picture with the shrimp and ricordea in that thread.

 

[aquarius77]

Maybe a Anemone Shrimp?
Not sure on scientific name but here is mine.

He changes color according to what hes hosting, they love rics.

 

[saltycreefer]

aquarius, your's looks like a pedersoni shrimp. Those are tough to get a hold of. Awesome shrimp!

 

[aquarius77]

Thank you.
He had no color when i got him, i had to do a tripple look to make sure he was in the bag. As soon as he sat on a ric he changed color. As he switches from ric to ric he changes colors to blend in with the host, i think its a defense.