Hong Kong Corals & the Associated Marine Life
Hong Kong Corals & the Associated Marine Life
Arthropoda is the largest phylum of living creatures. It is composed of roughly one million species, accounting for over three-quarter of all animals described. Class Crustacea of this phylum is a dominant group found in coral areas. It includes not only the well-known lobsters, shrimps and crabs, but also the land-dominating insects. This group of organisms is incredibly diverse with regard to sizes, shapes, colours and life styles. Crustaceans are characterized by the presence of a rigid external skeleton, a segmented body, jointed limbs with internal muscular attachment, two pairs of antennae and compound eyes. Since they grow continuously throughout the life cycle, their shells are moulted and replaced at regular intervals. Some shrimps and crabs form symbiotic associations with a large variety of organisms, including sea urchin, starfish, sea anemones, coral and so on. The basis of the association is variable depending on the partners involved. In most of the cases, shelter, protection and/or food can be obtained from each other. An interesting symbiosis exists between alpheus shrimp and goby. Since the shrimp has extremely poor vision, it needs a partner as "watchdog". The goby stands guard at the entrance of their living burrow and signals the shrimp for danger by flicking the tail. As a return, the shrimp excavates continuously to maintain their living place. More than 240 species of Pontoniine commensal shrimp are known from the Indo-Pacific and 20 species are known from local waters. There are over 800 species of marine crab in waters around China but the number of species found in Hong Kong is still unknown. |
Shrimps
Commensal Shrimps
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This beautiful shrimp is commonly found in the sea-anemone Entacmea uadricolor. It was first described from specimens caught in Hong Kong waters. The most obvious feature of this species is the white V-shape on the third abdomen segment. |
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This small shrimp associates with sea anemones. It is distinguished by the pattern of white spots and the five black and yellow spots on the tail. It has not previously been recorded from Hong Kong.
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This anemone-associated shrimp is characterized by the red colour on the body and the purple and white patterns on legs, pincers and tail. This species was firstly described from a specimen collected at Lung Ha Wan, Hong Kong. |
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This distinctive commensal shrimp is easily recognised by the flattened body and the dark body colour with three thin white stripes. It only inhabits the spines of sea urchins.
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This tiny shrimp lives on a starfish, and can also be found on sea cucumbers.
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This "long-nose" shrimp lives together with a gorgonian. |
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This shrimp lives with the goby Amblyeleotris guttata. It excavates continuously to maintain the living burrow in exchange for a "watchdog" service provided by the goby.
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The watch dog of this shrimp is goby, Cryptocentrus sp. |
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The partner of this shrimp is goby, Lotilia graciliosa. |
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Lobsters
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This species is characterized by the white strips on the pereiopods (legs). It is endemic in Hong Kong waters and appears to be the most abundant spiny lobster in mainland China. |
Crabs
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The thin, spindly legs of box crabs can be withdrawn close to the body, giving them a box-like appearance. Spotted Box-crabs are most easily seen at night when they emerge from the sand for feeding. |
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Box crab is also known as shame faced crab because its claws are held in front of the head, looking like hiding its face behind the claws.
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The Blue-swimming Crab is a local delicacy. It is often seen half buried in sand or mud.
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The species of commensal crab is always associated with crinoids, often occurring as a male and female pair.
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