Latreutes fucorum

(J. C. Fabricius, 1798)

Sargassum Shrimp

Latreutes fucorum is a small caridean shrimp in the Hippolytidae, commonly known as the Sargassum Shrimp. It forms a mutualistic with pelagic Sargassum , where it lives among the floating seaweed mats in open ocean environments. The species has been documented across the Atlantic Ocean from Canada to Brazil, including the Caribbean and eastern Atlantic islands. It serves as a significant component of Sargassum-associated and acts as a for the parasitic bopyrid isopod Probopyrinella latreuticola.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Latreutes fucorum: /ləˈtruːtiːz fjuːˈkɔːrəm/

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Habitat

Pelagic Sargassum seaweed mats (floating brown ) in open ocean environments. Also recorded from Thalassia testudinum seagrass meadows in coastal areas.

Distribution

Western Atlantic Ocean from Canada to Brazil, including the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Sargasso Sea; Eastern Atlantic Ocean including the Azores Islands and Cape Verde. GBIF records confirm presence in Brazil (Alagoas, Bahia, Pernambuco).

Host Associations

Sargassum spp. - mutualistic Primary ; shrimp establishes and maintains association using chemical cues. Shrimp detected Sargassum cues and dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), triggering searching .
Probopyrinella latreuticola - Bopyrid isopod ; frequency averages 6.7% across Gulf of Mexico, Sargasso Sea, and Eastern Caribbean. Infestation appears to reduce —only one infested individual observed carrying versus 13% of non-infested shrimp.

Life Cycle

Ovigerous females carry through embryonic development. Average egg volume increases 92.3% from early development (0.013 mm³) to near-hatching stage (0.025 mm³). Size at sexual maturity estimated at 2.55 ± 0.79 mm cephalothoracic length.

Behavior

Uses chemical cues to detect and locate Sargassum in the absence of visual cues. Chemical detection of Sargassum and DMSP triggers searching . Male and female shrimp show differential responses to chemical cues.

Ecological Role

Accounts for approximately three-quarters of lower in pelagic Sargassum-associated faunal . Serves as prey for higher trophic levels including ecologically and commercially important fish .

Similar Taxa

Leander tenuicornisCo-occurring sargassum shrimp with similar ; both studied together for chemical cue detection in Sargassum . L. tenuicornis belongs to different (Palaemonidae) but shares mutualistic association with pelagic Sargassum.

More Details

Parasite Impact on Population

Probopyrinella latreuticola may have negative consequences for that rely on L. fucorum as a food source, given the shrimp's dominance in Sargassum .

Reproductive Characteristics

Sex ratio of 1.59 males per female observed in Mexican . averages 96.25 (range 25–323), with strong positive correlation (r = 0.72) between female size and egg number.