Bubble Coral Shrimp

The Bubble Coral Shrimp, scientifically known as Palaemonella philippinensis (earlier referred to as Vir philippinensis), is a tropical marine species found in the Indo-West Pacific region, ranging from the 🌊 Red Sea to the 🇵🇭 Philippines, 🇯🇵 Japan, and 🇦🇺 Australia. This small shrimp typically resides in benthic environments at depths between 7 and 30 meters (approximately 23 to 98 feet). Measuring about 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches) in length, it is recognizable by the distinctive purple lines on its legs and claw arms when found on the coral species Plerogyra sinuosa.

As a member of the Decapoda order, the Bubble Coral Shrimp is primarily gonochoric, meaning individuals are either male or female. Their mating behavior involves a precopulatory courtship ritual, which is common among these shrimps and relies on sensory cues like smell and touch. The shrimp also engage in an indirect method of sperm transfer during reproduction.