Discoveries

Two new shrimp species discovered from the Kimberley Bioregion

New species

Two new species of shrimp, discovered near Cassini Island and Long Reef in the northern Kimberley, have been described and named by retired shrimp taxonomist Dr. Sandy Bruce, Honorary Associate at the Queensland Museum. Ancylomenes batei Bruce, 2011 and Typtonychus bruceorum Bruce, 2011 were collected during the WA Museum’s 2010 expedition to the northern Kimberley sponsored by Woodside Energy.

Ancylomenes batei belongs to a group of cleaner-shrimp. These shrimp live on the reef, often associated with particular anemones or corals, and are called cleaner-shrimp as they feed on parasites or the dead tissue of fish and other marine animals. This role makes them an important component of the reef community. The shrimp are recognised for their role and, for the most part, left alone by fish that would normally prey on them. Normally, these species are brightly coloured, but unfortunately the colour has been lost in the preservation process.

Little is known about Typtonychus bruceorum and its related species, but they are known to inhabit the cavities of sponges, usually in pairs. Typtonychus bruceroum is a small species barely reaching 13 mm in length. Their large, stout pincers are more likely for defensive purposes than for capturing food. It is likely that they would need to defend their territory within the sponge from other shrimp and crustaceans, as well as rivals from their own species. This species has unusual brush like mouthparts that may be used to sweep food particles from the walls of the host sponge.

References:

Bruce A.J., 2011. A new species of Ancylomenes Okuno & Bruce, 2009 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Pontoniinae) from the Kimberley region, Western Australia. Zootaxa 3018: 66–68.

Bruce, A. J., 2011. Notes on Some Indo-pacific Pontoniinae, L. Typtonychus spp. nov., from Northwest Australia. Crustaceana 84(11): 1337-1351.

Figure 1: Male Ancylomenes batei Bruce, 2011 collected from Long Reef in October 2010.

Image copyright of WA Museum

Figure 2: Male Typtonychus bruceroum Bruce, 2011 collected from Cassini Island in October 2010.

Image copyright of WA Museum

 

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