Cleaner shrimp
Scientific name : Periclimenes sarasvati
Transparent shrimp, white spots with purple edge are scattered on carapace and abdomen. A large spot on the abdomen hump, again white whit purple edge. White eyes with a red band across, white antennae, white claws with purple stripes. White tail with purple markings. 2.5 cm.
The pink points seen through the abdomen are the eggs. This species has often been misidentified with Periclimenes tosaensis, a species collected in the South China Sea at 80-90 m depth. Only recently it has been named P. sarasvati.
Confusion is possible with all the other transparent Periclimenes species.
Commonly it is confused with Periclimenes holthuisi: the latter has no white with purple borderspots, but with brown border. The white V with brown border on back is a useful diagnostic for P. holthuisi, in P. sarasvati it has a purple border.
Another species that can easily be confused is Periclimenes venustus, having a white or pinkish spot on the abdomen hump but with no border. Also Periclimenes magnificus, in young specimens, always having white antennal scales.
Associated organisms
Living in commensal association with many anemone species, practically with all the host anemones, or with mushroom corals, cariophillid corals , the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopeia sp.
It is a cleaner, and approaches fish with a typical dance made of side twists.
Habitat:
Coastal bay, Lagoon, Reef front
Distribution:
Western Pacific
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