‘Transparency’
Unidentified shrimp on unidentified Ricordea polyp
Music, Video, and Aquarium
2010 Coral Morphologic

In the second installment of the ‘Unidentified Ricordea Shrimp’ series we find the (previously featured) unidentified Ricordea shrimp upon an unusual host. While it is is most certainly on a Ricordea polyp, we are not convinced that it is in fact Ricordea florida. Over the years, we have noticed several key morphological and physiological differences that suggest that there are two genetically distinct morphs of Ricordea florida. For practical purposes, we have been referring to the morph of Ricordea seen here (under 470 nm light) as ‘inshore ricordea’.

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‘Unidentified Ricordea Shrimp’
Unidentified commensal shrimp on Ricordea florida corallimorphs
Music, Video, and Aquarium
2010 Coral Morphologic

Shown above is the first documented video of a currently unidentified shrimp commensal with Ricordea florida corallimorphs. The nearly invisible shrimp measures only 9mm in total length. The ricordea polyp is about 30mm in diameter for comparison. We first reported and photographed this shrimp in October 2009. Subsequently, we sent a preserved specimen to taxonomist Dr. Richard Heard at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory. Dr. Heard was unable to match the specimen with a described shrimp species. We will be sending additional specimens in the near future to confirm this shrimp’s newness to science.