Peppermint shrimp
A cleaner shrimp with bright red stripes, often confused with other species.
The peppermint shrimp, once widely sold in the aquarium trade under the scientific name *Lysmata wurdemanni*, actually represents a case of mistaken identity. Genetic and morphological studies have split what was thought to be a single species into several distinct ones, including *Lysmata boggessi*, *Lysmata rathbunae*, and others found in the western Atlantic. Because of this, *Lysmata wurdemanni* is now understood to have a much smaller natural range and is not the shrimp most often used in reef tanks to control *Aiptasia* anemones. That job belongs to *Lysmata boggessi*, which has proven to be a reliable and consistent predator of these pests. This shrimp grows to about 7 centimeters long. Its translucent body is marked with bright red stripes that resemble peppermint candies, giving it its common name. In contrast, its eggs are a vivid green. Originally described from specimens collected near Key West, Florida, and Charleston, South Carolina, *Lysmata wurdemanni* lives along the U.S. Atlantic coast from Long Island down to Florida, and across the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Port Aransas, Texas. It may also appear in the northern Caribbean, though this has not been confirmed. Reproduction in this species is unusual. *Lysmata wurdemanni* is a protandric simultaneous hermaphrodite: it starts life as a male, goes through four molts as a male, and then may become a hermaphrodite. Some males, however, never make the switch. In the hermaphroditic stage, the shrimp acts as a male between molts and as a female right after molting. Over time, the male organs shrink, likely because energy shifts toward developing female reproductive structures. To find mates, males use a "pure searching" strategy, constantly looking for receptive females. They rely on olfactory organs called aesthetascs on their antennules to detect soluble sex pheromones released by females 2 to 8 hours before molting. Guided by these chemical cues, a male approaches the female and "tastes" her contact pheromones with his aesthetascs to confirm she is a suitable partner. If the signals are right, courtship begins, and copulation happens quickly just after the female molts, while her new cuticle is still soft.
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Lysmata
- Species
- wurdemanni
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Lysmata wurdemanni reaches 7 centimetres in length and is named for the bright red stripes on its otherwise translucent body, which are reminiscent of peppermint candies such as a candy cane. Its eggs, by contrast, are bright green. The species was originally described from specimens collected at Key West, Florida and Charleston, South Carolina. Its range extends along the Atlantic seaboard of the United States from Long Island to Florida, and along the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Port Aransas, Texas. It may also occur in the northern Caribbean Sea, but this has not been confirmed. Lysmata wurdemanni is a protandric simultaneous hermaphrodite, meaning it begins as a male but may later become a hermaphrodite. It has four moults as a male before changing sexes to become a euhermaphrodite. However, under certain conditions some males never change to hermaphrodites. In the euhermaphrodite stage the shrimp act as a male between moults and as a female immediately following a moult. During this hermaphroditic stage the shrimp gradually lose their male organs, likely because more energy is being allocated to the development of female reproductive organs. For mate-finding, Lysmata wurdemanni employs a 'pure searching' tactic in which males constantly search for receptive females. Males use olfactory organs (aesthetascs) on their antennules to detect soluble female sex pheromones (distance pheromones) released 2–8 hours prior to female moulting. Guided by these chemical signals, males approach the female and 'taste' her contact pheromones to confirm suitability. Courtship and copulation occur immediately post-moult, while the female's cuticle is new and soft.
Reader's Guide
While it has occasionally been reported to consume Aiptasia anemones, most shrimp previously identified as L. wurdemanni in the aquarium trade are now recognised as other species — particularly Lysmata boggessi, which has been confirmed through scientific study and aquarist observation as the most consistent and reliable predator of Aiptasia. Like other species in the genus, L. wurdemanni is a protandric simultaneous hermaphrodite and reproduces readily in captivity. Its moulting and copulation cycles are similar to those observed in other cleaner shrimp such as Lysmata debelius, producing weekly batches of planktonic zoea larvae under favourable conditions. The species L. wurdemanni has undergone reclassification and has been divided into four distinct species – L. wurdemanni, L. ankeri, L. bahia and L. boggessii. More recent molecular phylogenetic work found that L. wurdemanni is a cryptic species with at least 5 (and potentially 9) morphologically identical species being present across its range.
Did You Know?
- Lysmata wurdemanni is named for the bright red stripes on its translucent body, reminiscent of peppermint candies.
- Its eggs are bright green, contrasting with its red-striped body.
- It is a protandric simultaneous hermaphrodite, beginning life as a male and potentially later becoming a hermaphrodite.
- The species has been divided into at least four distinct species based on genetic and morphological data.
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