- Lysmata amboinensis
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Lysmata amboinensis 
Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Crustacea Class: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda Infraorder: Caridea Family: Hippolytidae Genus: Lysmata Species: L. amboinensis Binomial name Lysmata amboinensis
De Man, 1888Lysmata amboinensis, the northern cleaner shrimp, scarlet cleaner shrimp, skunk cleaner shrimp or Pacific cleaner shrimp, is an omnivorous shrimp species, which will generally scavenge and eat parasites and dead tissue. L. amboinensis is naturally part of the reef ecosystem, and is widespread in the Red Sea and tropical Indo-Pacific.[1]
It has been observed that fish with parasites may come to "cleaning stations" in the reef. Certain species of fish and several types of cleaner shrimp may assist the fish in large numbers and even go inside the mouth (and then to the gill cavity) without being eaten.
Many species of Lysmata, including L. amboinesis, are safe and beneficial in salt water tanks since they will (as indicated by their common name) clean both the tank and occasionally other fish within the tank.[2]
L. amboinensis will normally moult every 3–8 weeks.
References
- ^ "Cleaner Shrimps, Family Hippolytidae". Wetwebmedia. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hippolytidae.htm. Retrieved 2006-08-15.
- ^ "Lysmata amboinensis". Age of Aquariums. http://www.aquahobby.com/marine/e_amboinensis.php. Retrieved 2002-08-15.
External links
Media related to Lysmata amboinensis at Wikimedia Commons
Categories:- Alpheoidea
- Indo-Pacific crustaceans
- Animals described in 1888
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