Karen Honeycutt, USA
Info
Palaemonella euphyllius (Marin & Anker, 2005))
Palaemonella euphyllius lives on corals of the genus Fimbriaphyllia, specifically the hammer coral Fimbriaphyllia ancora, but is also thought to be found on Fimbriaphyllia divisa, Fimbriaphyllia paraancora and Euphyllia glabrescens. Most likely, Palaemonella euphyllius is also found on other Euphyllidae species. The relationship is considered by science to be symbiotic.
Their yellowish-transparent body, speckled with very small red-brown dots, matches the tentacle tissue of the coral perfectly and their dots look like zooxanthellae symbionts. The white line running across the head between the eyes is a perfect blend between the tentacles and the long septa on the stony coral when the tissue is retracted and the shrimp is most vulnerable. The red-rimmed eyes add some color to Palaemonella euphyllius's general camouflage.
The appearance of this shrimp matches its host perfectly.
Synonymised names
Vir euphyllius Marin & Anker, 2005 · unaccepted > superseded combination
Vir pareuphyllius Marin & Anker, 2005 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Palaemonella euphyllius lives on corals of the genus Fimbriaphyllia, specifically the hammer coral Fimbriaphyllia ancora, but is also thought to be found on Fimbriaphyllia divisa, Fimbriaphyllia paraancora and Euphyllia glabrescens. Most likely, Palaemonella euphyllius is also found on other Euphyllidae species. The relationship is considered by science to be symbiotic.
Their yellowish-transparent body, speckled with very small red-brown dots, matches the tentacle tissue of the coral perfectly and their dots look like zooxanthellae symbionts. The white line running across the head between the eyes is a perfect blend between the tentacles and the long septa on the stony coral when the tissue is retracted and the shrimp is most vulnerable. The red-rimmed eyes add some color to Palaemonella euphyllius's general camouflage.
The appearance of this shrimp matches its host perfectly.
Synonymised names
Vir euphyllius Marin & Anker, 2005 · unaccepted > superseded combination
Vir pareuphyllius Marin & Anker, 2005 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
