Alpheus fasqueli
A snapping shrimp from Sri Lanka with bright red coloration.
Alpheus fasqueli is a species of snapping shrimp first found in Sri Lanka. Its carapace is covered in setae, with a well-developed, downward-pointing rostrum that is keeled and sharp, and its orbital hoods are smooth and lack spines. The basicerite of the antenna has a strong tooth on its lower outer side, and the blade of the scaphocerite is fully formed. The third maxilliped has an epipodial plate with thick setae, and the first pair of claws have a strong tooth on the inner edge of the merus. The third walking leg has spines on the ischium and a simple, cone-shaped dactylus. The telson is wide, narrowing toward the tip, and has two pairs of spines on its upper surface. The carapace length reaches about 17.5 mm, total length about 44 mm, and the larger claw about 22 mm. The carapace is smooth, with shallow grooves at the front sides and scattered setae on top. The pterygostomial angle is rounded, and the eyes have small forward projections with well-developed corneas. The antennular peduncles are stout. The mouthparts match those of *Alpheus tricolor*, with the incisor process bearing fewer than ten teeth. The merus of the claw is slightly wavy on the inner edge but lacks teeth, and the carpus is very short. The uropodal exopod has a moderately developed lateral spine and a sinuous diaresis. The body is bright red, with round and elongated whitish patches. The rostrum is red, the orbital hoods transparent, and the antennal and antennular stalks reddish, with purplish-red flagella. Both claws are red, with a white patch near the tip of the merus and white fingertips. The abdomen is red, with the pleura a deeper bordeaux red underneath. The uropods and telson are also red. The species is named for Frédéric Fasquel, a photographer who provided rare shrimp specimens to the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Alpheus fasqueli
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Alpheus fasqueli was first isolated in Sri Lanka. Its carapace is smooth, possessing shallow grooves latero-anteriorly and scattered setae dorsally. The rostrum is well developed and descendant, the orbital hoods are inflated and lack teeth, and the pterygostomial angle is rounded. The species has a setose carapace, an acute and carinate rostrum, and unarmed orbital hoods. Its basicerite bears a strong ventrolateral tooth, and the lamella of its scaphocerite is not reduced. The third maxilliped has an epipodial plate bearing thick setae, and the first chelipeds have a merus with a strong disto-mesial tooth. The third pereiopod has an armed ischium and a simple, conical dactylus. The telson is broad, distally tapering, with two pairs of dorsal spines. The species is named after Frédéric Fasquel, a photographer who contributed rare shrimp specimens for the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle.
Reader's Guide
Alpheus fasqueli is significant as a distinct snapping shrimp species first documented from Sri Lanka, contributing to the known diversity of the genus Alpheus. Its description provides morphological details such as a smooth carapace with shallow grooves, a well-developed descendant rostrum, and inflated orbital hoods lacking teeth. The species' coloration is striking: the carapace is bright red with circular and elongated whitish patches, the chelipeds are red with white-tipped fingers, and the abdomen is red with bordeaux red pleura. The species' legacy is tied to Frédéric Fasquel, a photographer who supplied rare specimens to the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, for whom the shrimp is named. The article notes that its mouthparts are the same as for Alpheus tricolor, with the incisor process bearing fewer than ten teeth. The uropodal exopod has a moderately developed lateral spine and a sinuous diaresis. These details help distinguish A. fasqueli from related snapping shrimp and underscore its place in the Indo-Pacific crustacean fauna.
Did You Know?
- Alpheus fasqueli has a total length of 44 mm and a carapace length of about 17.5 mm.
- The species is named after photographer Frédéric Fasquel, who contributed rare shrimp specimens to the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Alpheus fasqueli?
Alpheus fasqueli is a species of snapping shrimp in the family Alpheidae, recognized by its striking bright red coloration. It was described from specimens originally collected off the coast of Sri Lanka.
Where was Alpheus fasqueli first discovered?
The type specimens used to describe this species were isolated from Sri Lankan waters, making that region its known point of origin.
What does Alpheus fasqueli look like?
It has a vivid red body, a carapace densely clothed in fine setae, and a sharp, keeled rostrum that angles downward. Its orbital hoods are smooth and entirely spineless, while the first pair of claws bears a prominent strong tooth along the inner edge of the merus.
How big does Alpheus fasqueli get?
Adults reach a total body length of roughly 44 mm, with the carapace alone measuring about 17.5 mm and the large snapping chela spanning approximately 22 mm.
Who is Alpheus fasqueli named after?
The specific epithet 'fasqueli' is a dedication to Frédéric Fasquel, honoring his association with the discovery or study of the species.
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