Allopontonia brockii
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF, description from Wikipedia.
Last updated
Distribution map plotted from GBIF.org occurrence records; basemap Natural Earth 110m · GBIF records CC0 / CC BY; Natural Earth public domain
Allopontonia brockii is a small commensal shrimp in the family Palaemonidae.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumArthropoda
- CladePancrustacea
- ClassMalacostraca
- OrderDecapoda
- SuborderPleocyemata
- InfraorderCaridea
- FamilyPalaemonidae
- GenusAllopontonia
- SpeciesAllopontonia brockii
Named by (de Man, 1888)
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Allopontonia brockii (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 514476 (CC BY 4.0)
Where the allopontonia brockii has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (51 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 4 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain) · place coordinates: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Quick Facts
- Authority
- (De Man, 1888)
- Family
- Palaemonidae
- Order
- Decapoda
- Habitat zone
- benthic
- Gbif occurrence records
- 51
Facts from the source article.
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Arthropoda · Class: Malacostraca · Order: Decapoda · Family: Palaemonidae · Genus: Allopontonia.
Accepted name: Allopontonia brockii · Authority: (De Man, 1888) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 514476.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Allopontonia iaini Bruce, 1972; Anchistia Brockii De Man, 1888; Periclimenes (Periclimenes) signatus Kemp, 1925; Periclimenes brockii (De Man, 1888); Periclimenes priodactylus Bruce, 1992.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=514476 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)
Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Allopontonia brockii. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Habitat zone: benthic.
Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 161636) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Allopontonia-brockii.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
51 georeferenced occurrence records for Allopontonia brockii are published through GBIF from 7 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 14 distinct locations from a sample of 51 records, omitting 4 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.
Most records by country or area: Philippines (33); Indonesia (9); Australia (2); India (2); New Caledonia (2); Tanzania, United Republic of (2); Mexico (1).
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 6456641) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=6456641&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=514476 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
This species of shrimp can be easily confused with Allogalathea elegans (crinoid squat lobster) due to its long chelipeds, the visible shape of its cephalothorax, its abdomen slightly curved under the body and by its colours.
However, Allopontonia brockii differs in several points from Allogalathea elegans:
its rostrum is ridged, sharp and notched,
its chelipeds are smooth without spines. The body coloration varies from light yellow to orange–red with a wide whitish longitudinal stripe sometimes lined with a dark border. It reaches a maximum length of 1 cm.
Allopontonia brockii is widespread through the Indo-Pacific, Red Sea included, and the eastern coast of the Pacific Ocean.
Allopontonia brockii is considered as a commensal species from different species of sea urchins like some of the genus Salmaciella, Salmacis, Asthenosoma or Pseudoboletiana. However, Allopontonia brockii can usually be observed on Asthenosoma varium (fire sea urchin). Allopontonia brockii takes advantage of its host when it moves on the substratum to collect its food during the way and also takes benefit of the potential food which can hang onto the sea urchin.
Source: Wikipedia: Allopontonia brockii — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allopontonia_brockii (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Allopontonia brockii (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; order, family and genus checked against WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Biology values: SeaLifeBase species summary (CC BY-NC 3.0, non-commercial).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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