Arthropoda
Synalpheus minus
(Snapping Shrimp)
Size
Length: up to 3.8cm (1.5")
Recognition Characters
Front of carapace with 3 teeth each in form of equilateral triangle. Eyes completely covered by orbital hood. First legs chelate, unequal. Large chela ovate; palm about 2.5 times length of fingers, anterior dorsal margin with strong, sharp tooth at inner side and blunter tooth on lateral and ventral side near base of dactyl. Telson with sides slightly sinuous, tip broadly rounded; 2 pairs of dorsal spines, 1st pair at midlength, 2nd pair at 3/4 length; distal margin with pair of spines at each postlateral corner.
Color
Body is translucent yellowish white; large chela are white or translucent gray. Fingers are orange, tips are red, banded near base of fingers with white in female, white tipped with green in males. Body is dotted with green chromatophores.
Habitat & Depth
Anyplace that provides refuge. In sponges, dead coral, coral rock, abandoned shells, and under rocks. Intertidal to 85m.
Distribution at GRNMS
Abundant. Associated with other organisms and places of refuge within and under reefs.
Geographic Range
Beaufort, North Carolina south to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda
Behavior & Notes
Synonyms
Williams 1984