Durban Dancing Shrimp (Rhynchocinetes durbanensis), Ko Phi Phi, Thailand

The Durban dancing shrimp earned this name due to its sudden sporadic movements. It is also known as the Hinge-beak shrimp for its moveable angled beak. It is easily identified by the bright red and white lines and white markings that cover its translucent body. Females carry anywhere from 200 to 1700 eggs, which spawn in 9-18 days depending on temperature.

The Durban dancing shrimp is found throughout the Indo-Pacific, living in large groups around rocky reefs and under overhangs between 5-35 meters deep. They are social beings who sometimes share their homes with other creatures; offering them cleanings by waving their tiny arms over their heads. We photographed this shrimp during a dive near Ko Phi Phi, Thailand.