Fine-striped Snapping Shrimp Alpheus ochrostriatus

Snapping/Pistol Shrimps are burrowing shrimps with poor vision that share their burrows with species of prawn goby, the goby being the sentry providing warning and protection and receiving a burrow in return. The Fine-striped Snapping Shrimp is native to shallow marine and brakish waters of reefs and estuaries of the indo-western Pacific. It grows to 5cm long and is often in pairs.

The shrimps do not go far from their burrow and are mainly nocturnal. They have a large claw with which they can make a snapping sound and release a jet of water to defend themselves or subdue prey. (The goby sharing here is the Spotted Prawn Goby, Amblyeleotris guttata.)