Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) .Number 157, January 2018, pp. 1-13. | Page 3

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forceps, the third pair being significantly larger but the others are mainly used for
cleaning fishes (WAZA & Wikipedia).
The Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus Olivier, 1811) around the Snoopy Island, Emirate of
Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, Gulf of Oman .. Photo by Ola Mostafa Khalaf .. 14.04.2017.
http://marine-life-uae-2.webs.com/
Ecology
The Banded Coral Shrimp Stenopus hispidus lives below the intertidal zone, at depth of
up to 210 meters (690 feet), on coral reefs (Wikipedia). It is a non-obligate cleaner
shrimp of larger fishes and therefore waits - upside down - for customers swimming by.
To signal is willing to clean it performs a dance shaking its white antennae and banded
body (WAZA). Stenopus hispidus uses its three pairs of claws to remove parasites, fungi
and damaged tissue from the fish (Wikipedia). It may also feed on small fishes, other
crustaceans, snails and worms. Sometimes food is shared among mated partners. It
rests by day and becomes active at dusk. Strong flips of its tail will help the Banded
Coral Shrimp to escape in case of danger although no natural predatory enemies are
known (WAZA).
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 157 – January 2018