Latreutes
Stimpson, 1860
Species Guides
1- Latreutes fucorum(Sargassum Shrimp)
Latreutes is a of marine shrimp in the Hippolytidae. within this genus exhibit distinct reproductive strategies, with documented cases of consecutive breeding and seasonal reproductive peaks. Some species, such as L. fucorum, form mutualistic associations with pelagic Sargassum , while others inhabit benthic marine environments. The genus shows variation in preference across species, from Sargassum-associated pelagic habitats to seagrass meadows and coastal waters.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Latreutes: //læˈtruːtiːz//
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Habitat
varies by : L. fucorum is associated with pelagic Sargassum macroalgae in open ocean environments, while L. planirostris inhabits marine coastal waters. L. fucorum has also been collected from Thalassia testudinum seagrass meadows in nearshore habitats.
Distribution
L. fucorum: American Atlantic coast from Canada to Brazil, part of the Antilles, Azores Islands, and Cape Verde in the eastern Atlantic. L. planirostris: south-western waters of Korea.
Seasonality
Reproductive activity peaks vary by and region. L. planirostris in Korean waters shows gonadosomatic index peaks from May to September, with highest values in June; two breeding peaks occur (May-June and September). Recruitment in this occurs twice annually.
Host Associations
- Sargassum - associationMutualistic with pelagic Sargassum macroalgae for L. fucorum; shrimp use chemical cues including dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) to locate and maintain association
- Thalassia testudinum - associationCollected from seagrass meadows in Bahía de la Ascensión, Mexico for L. fucorum
- Probopyrinella latreuticola - Bopyrid isopod ; frequency averaged 6.7% in L. fucorum across Gulf of Mexico, Sargasso Sea, and Eastern Caribbean; parasite presence associated with reduced
Life Cycle
Growth follows von Bertalanffy growth function. L. planirostris: asymptotic length (L∞) of 12.70 mm, growth coefficient (K) of 0.87 yr⁻¹. Recruitment occurs twice yearly in some . Sexual maturity in L. fucorum occurs at approximately 2.55 mm carapace length.
Behavior
L. fucorum exhibits chemoreceptive in response to Sargassum and DMSP cues, triggering searching behavior even in absence of visual cues. Sex-based differences in cue response have been observed.
Ecological Role
L. fucorum constitutes approximately three-quarters of lower in pelagic Sargassum-associated faunal , serving as a significant food source for higher trophic levels.
Similar Taxa
- Leander tenuicornisAlso forms mutualistic with Sargassum ; distinguished by chemoreceptive patterns and cue response differences in experimental studies
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Reproductive Biology of Neocaridina denticulata denticulata and Latreutes planirostris
- Probopyrinella latreuticola parasite infestation frequencies in pelagic Sargassum-associated shrimp, Latreutes fucorum
- Reproductive Biology and Population Dynamics of Latreutes planirostris in the South-Western Waters of Korea
- Some Reproductive Aspects of Latreutes Fucorum (Fabricius, 1798) (Decapoda, Hippolytidae) from Bahía De La Ascensión, Quintana Roo, Mexico
- The Use of Chemical Cues by Sargassum Shrimps Latreutes fucorum and Leander tenuicornis in Establishing and Maintaining a Symbiosis with the Host Sargassum Algae