Synopsis: This is talk is based on:
Symbiotic relationships in Alpheidae (Decapoda, Caridea).

Arthur Anker
Museum National d‚ Historie Naturelle, 55, rue du Buffon, 75005, Paris, France.

&

M.S Jeng
Institute of Zoology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan 115, R.O.C.

 The shrimp family Alpheidae is one of the largest decapod groups, and is particularly representative and diversified in shallow tropical waters. A considerable number of species is associated with other marine organisms. The most interesting examples of these associations are presented and illustrated according to their ecological and behavioral characteristics.

 The host and associates of Alpheidae include species from ecologically and phylogenetically very different phyla, such as Porifera, Cnidaria, Annelida,Echiurida, Mollusca, Echinodermata, Urochordata, Crustacea and Pisces. This fact can be explained by the obviously high adaptive potential of Alpheidae, which may be partly due to their morphological variability and plasticity and to their strictly bentic life-style.

 Discussed and illustrated are also other associations between shrimps and other marine animals, especially the recently discovered relationships with fishes and stomatopods. Particular emphasis is made on the colour adaptation in alpheid and other caridean shrimps.