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Family: Alpheidae
Snapping Shrimp
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Bocas Species Database Habitat: Alpheus thomasi will favor habitats such as sandy bottoms with rocks and corals and can be found in crevices of sand reefs. Distribution: This species has been reported from the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean in Florida, the Gulf of Mexico and from the Caribbean to southern Brazil. It is commonly observed in the region of Bocas del Toro, Panama. Natural History Notes: Alpheus thomasi does not have a sister or a closely related species. However, this species is regularly confused with Alpheus websteri because of their resemblances. Depth: Present in the intertidal and shallow subtidal, to about 5-10 m. Characteristics: This species has a body length of about 23 mm. Alpheus thomasi shares some similitude with another Alpheus species called Alpheus websteri. A. thomasi can be distinguished from A. websteri by several morphological differences such as the frontal margin between the rostrum and the orbital hoods being more deeply notched, the major and minor chelae being slenderer, the presence of a narrower spine on the uropod and other features on the third pereiopod. Another important difference is the presence of a ventrolateral spine on the ischium in A. thomasi. They also have differences in the color pattern, such the absence of spots on the major chela of A. thomasi. Notes: This species usually lives in pair, under rocks or in crevices. |