Shrimply Festive!

The Ocean’s Candy Cane

Want proof that the ocean celebrates Christmas too? Make way for the Candy Cane Shrimp (Alpheus randalli). These little critters are commonly found in Whitsunday reef areas, as they are native to shallow tropical and subtropical waters.

Their name is definitive of their look, evoking a candy cane with their distinct red and white stripes. Great friends with the Goby fish due to their mutualistic relationship, where the nearly blind shrimp digs burrows as the Goby stays on the lookout. Therefore, the relationship is mutually beneficial and they are both reliant on one another for survival.

The Candy Cane Shrimp is medium-sized, reaching around 1.2 inches in length, and the carapace (hard upper shell) of the candy cane shrimp is laterally compressed. They are a species of snapping shrimp and have one cheliped larger than the other, with a large snapping claw that snaps shut quickly, creating a wave of bubbles that generates high acoustic pressure and noise. This can be used as a form of communication or to stun prey for food.

Fun Fact: Male and female Candy Cane Shrimp do not share burrows but will build passageways between adjoining burrows.

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