About Alpheus richardsoni Yaldwyn, 1971
Alpheus richardsoni, commonly called Richardson's snapping shrimp, is a species of shrimp belonging to the family Alpheidae. It is primarily distributed across the South Pacific, occurring in Australia (including Tasmania), New Zealand, and several Pacific Islands. This species inhabits reef and seaweed areas, found at depths of up to 25 metres. Richardson's snapping shrimp uses its large claw to produce a loud noise that stuns its underwater prey. It is known to form a symbiotic relationship with gobies, particularly the goby species Drombus ocyurus. In this symbiosis, the shrimp digs a shared burrow; the goby stands watch for approaching predators, while the shrimp provides protection for the goby.
