Banded Coral Shrimp in Cozumel
Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) in Cozumel: how to identify it, where cleaning stations are, and what it is confused with.
Bold red-and-white banded claws and body with very long white antennae waving from a crevice. Usually in pairs.
Quick ID
| Scientific name | Stenopus hispidus |
|---|---|
| Group | Crustaceans — Lobster, Shrimp & Crabs |
| Typical size | 3–6 cm body, antennae much longer |
| Depth range | 3–30 m |
| When to see it | Year-round |
| Active | Day and night |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Notes | — |
Where You Will See It In Cozumel
Overhangs and crevices at Palancar Caves, Yucab and Villa Blanca — look under ledges rather than on top of coral.
Reliable sites: Palancar Caves, Yucab, Villa Blanca Wall.
Behaviour
A cleaner shrimp. The waving white antennae are an advertisement: fish queue at the station and hold still, and the shrimp removes parasites and dead tissue, including from inside the mouths of morays.
Commonly Confused With
- Pederson cleaner shrimp — Pederson shrimp are small, transparent with purple spots, and live on anemones.
- Scarlet-striped cleaning shrimp — That species has continuous stripes down the back rather than discrete bands and banded claws.
Diving Etiquette And Safety
Nothing required. If a fish is holding still at a cleaning station, wait — swimming through it scatters the queue.
Part of the Cozumel marine life guide · see Cozumel dive sites · plan your Cozumel dive trip
Photo: Esquilo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Banded Coral Shrimp Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the long white antennae for?
Do they really clean inside moray eels mouths?
Are they usually in pairs?
Where do you find them?
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