The Harlequin Shrimp, Hymenocera picta, is one of the most beautiful and enigmatic shrimp available to marine aquarists. The beautiful Harlequin, like it’s closest relative the Bongo Shrimp (Phyllognathia ceratophthalma), only eats starfish. However, whereas the Bongo Shrimp appears to eat all Ophiuroids aka brittle stars, the Harlequin shrimp so far has only been documented to eat Asteroids, or the more typical starfish species. In recognition of YouTube beginning to suport full 1080p video resolution, we’ve made and uploaded a very close up video of the Harlequin shrimp in full HD for your high definition pleasure. Although the pair above is only about half of their full adult size, they still display all the features and behaviors that make this invertebrate species so fascinating. The female is the larger specimen, and the male is the smaller one.
Harlequin shrimp, Hymenocera picta, dragging off a seastar in Full HD
Jake Adams
Jake Adams has been an avid marine aquarist since the mid 90s and has worked in the retail side of the marine aquarium trade for more than ten years. He has a bachelor’s degree in Marine Science and has been the managing editor of ReefBuilders.com since 2008. Jake is interested in every facet of the marine aquarium hobby from the concepts to the technology, rare fish to exotic corals, and his interests are well documented through a very prolific career of speaking to reef clubs and marine aquarium events, and writing articles for aquarium publications across the globe. His primary interest is in corals which Jake pursues in the aquarium hobby as well as diving the coral reefs of the world.
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