Seastar shrimp
Zenopontonia soror
Commensal shrimps associated with a wide variety of asteroids (sea stars) hosts. Coloration varies to match the host but often includes a white stripe or white dots on its back.
Morphology
Small shrimp with truncate rostrum. Mandibles and chelas adapted for feeding on particles trapped in mucus.
Evolution
There is debate over the placement of the species under Periclimenes or Zenopontonia. The species is less specialised when it comes to host-selection and is believed to be more primitive in the large group of Palaemonid shrimps associated with other organisms.
Behaviour
Symbiont on sea stars and facultative associate of nudibranchs. They can change colour when moved to different hosts. Generally found alone or in pairs but up to 24 individuals from 1 host have been recorded.
Method of reproduction
Sexual
Habitat
Marine
Generally found on coral reefs in the sublittoral zone
Distribution
Indo-Pacific, east Pacific and Red Sea
Life Cycle
Several planktonic larval stages.
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Crustacea |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Subclass: | Eumalacostraca |
| Superorder: | Eucarida |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Caridea |
| Superfamily: | Palaemonoidea |
| Family: | Palaemonidae |
| Genus: | Zenopontonia |
| Species: | soror |
| Name Published Year: | 1904 |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name Authorship: | Nobili |
| Commercial Impact: | This species has minor commercial value as part of the aquarium trade. |
| Conservation Assessment: | Least Concern |
Cite this page
Western Australian Museum Collections https://museum.wa.gov.au/online-collections/names/zenopontonia-soror
Accessed 31 Aug 2023
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