Pair-bonding
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-hispidusPorcellanidae
Porcelain Crabs
Porcellanidae, commonly known as porcelain crabs, is a family of decapod crustaceans in the infraorder Anomura. Despite their common name and superficial resemblance to true crabs (Brachyura), they are more closely related to squat lobsters and hermit crabs. The family contains approximately 30+ genera and is distributed worldwide in marine environments, with highest diversity in tropical and subtropical regions. Many species exhibit commensal relationships with other marine organisms.