Lysmatidae

Guides

• Lysmata

  cleaner shrimp, peppermint shrimp

  Lysmata is a genus of marine caridean shrimp distinguished by its unique sexual system of protandric simultaneous hermaphroditism. The genus includes two main ecological groups: cleaner shrimp that live in pairs and remove parasites from fish, and peppermint shrimp that often live in aggregations and consume pest anemones. All studied species begin life as males before maturing into functional simultaneous hermaphrodites capable of both producing and fertilizing eggs. Members of this genus are heavily targeted by the ornamental aquarium trade, with some species commanding high prices.

  cleaner-shrimppeppermint-shrimpprotandric-simultaneous-hermaphroditismornamental-aquarium-tradecoral-reefmutualismAiptasia-controlhermaphroditeeuhermaphroditemale-phasecaridean-shrimpLysmatidaeHippolytidaetropical-marinetemperate-marinerock-reefsponge-habitatintertidalpair-bondingaggregationsectoparasite-removalfish-cleaningaquacultureconservationfisheries-managementmisidentificationcryptic-speciesgenetic-homogeneityoutcrossingreciprocal-fertilizationegg-incubationmoltingocean-acidificationwarmingbehavioral-ecologyreproductive-ecologyPanamaGulf-of-MexicoLakshadweepSouthern-CaliforniaArabian-SeaCaribbeanIndian-OceanLysmata-amboinensisLysmata-debeliusLysmata-boggessiLysmata-wurdemanniLysmata-bahiaLysmata-intermediaLysmata-californicaLysmata-hochiStenopus-hispidus