Yellowbanded coral shrimp (Stenopus scutellatus)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF, description from Wikipedia.
Stenopus scutellatus, commonly known as the gold coral banded shrimp or golden coral shrimp, is a boxer shrimp, a shrimp-like decapod crustacean belonging to the family Stenopodidae. It is found in suitable habitats in the western Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea.
- Scientific name
- Stenopus scutellatus
- Authority
- Rankin, 1898
- Family
- Stenopodidae
- Order
- Decapoda
- Depth range
- 1–182 m
- Habitat zone
- benthic
- Gbif occurrence records
- 417
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Arthropoda · Class: Malacostraca · Order: Decapoda · Family: Stenopodidae · Genus: Stenopus.
Accepted name: Stenopus scutellatus · Authority: Rankin, 1898 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 421664.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=421664 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)
Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Stenopus scutellatus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Depth range: 1–182 m · Habitat zone: benthic.
SeaLifeBase notes: Found on seagrass beds, rocky bottoms and coral reefs (Ref. 83922). Dwells in seagrass habitats in Belize. Forms facultative associations with sea anemones (Ref. 128695).
Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 25797) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Stenopus-scutellatus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
417 georeferenced occurrence records for Stenopus scutellatus are published through GBIF from 27 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 118 distinct locations from a sample of 417 records, omitting 12 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: United States of America (175); Mexico (33); Curaçao (30); Guadeloupe (30); French Guiana (29); Colombia (20); Martinique (18); Suriname (12); Panama (11); Cayman Islands (9); Honduras (6); Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (5); Trinidad and Tobago (5); Virgin Islands (U.S.) (5); Cuba (4).
Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Gulf of Mexico; Tobago; Aruban Exclusive Economic Zone; Martinican Exclusive Economic Zone; Curaçaoan Exclusive Economic Zone; Cubagua Island; Lesser Antilles; Estado Nueva Esparta; Los Roques, Islas; Saint Martin; Guadeloupean Exclusive Economic Zone; Saint-Barthélemy Exclusive Economic Zone; Statia; Isla Blanquilla; Saint Lucia (island).
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5178719) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5178719&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=421664 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
Stenopus spinosus can grow up to 4 cm long, and has a yellow spiny carapace and abdomen and long white antennae. The third pair of pereiopods (walking legs) are spiny and bear long claws and are much larger than the other pairs. They are boldly barred in red and white while the other legs are yellow. The tip of the abdomen, uropods and telson are also marked with orangeish-red and white.
Stenopus scutellatus is commonly found in shallow waters in the western Atlantic Ocean, Bermuda, the West Indies, the Gulf of Mexico and southwards to northern Brazil at depths between 10 and 113 m. They are found on coral reefs, in caves and among lumps of coral but are also found on rocks near turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows and on detritus on the seabed.
These shrimps are usually found in pairs, one of each sex, and have elaborate mating behaviours. They lurk in crevices with their long antennae visible and waving to advertise their presence. They offer cleaning services to fish which will approach and adopt special attitudes while parasites, such as isopods, and pieces of dead skin are removed and eaten by the shrimp. They are rather more shy than the banded cleaner shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) and approach the fishes that attend the cleaning station more cautiously. They sometimes just remain inside their niches picking at the side of the visiting fish immediately outside.
Source: Wikipedia: Stenopus scutellatus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stenopus_scutellatus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
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