Coastal Mud Shrimp
Upogebia affinis
Description 2
The coastal mud shrimp, Upogebia affinis, is one of a few species of relatively large, burrowing shrimps found in Florida. The rostrum, or foremost projection of the carapace, is large, flat and spinous (Ruppert & Fox 1988). Antennae extend about twice as long as the carapace, which is covered on its anterior portion by short, rigid hairs (Williams 1984). The claw-bearing legs, or chelipeds, are stout with hairs below and on the interior, and are ridged exteriorly. The fixed finger of the claw curves upward and is shorter than the movable finger called the dactyl. Both fingers bear small teeth on their inner surfaces, which grow larger closer to the base of the claw. U. affinis is usually gray, blue or yellowish-gray on the dorsal surface, pale blue on the center of the tail fan and the 5th abdominal segment, and light underneath. An oblique blue spot is located on the side of the carapace at the base of the antennae.
Size 3
A typically large burrowing shrimp, U. affinis attains lengths up to 10 cm (Kaplan 1988). Mud shrimps are thought to live for up to several years, although this claim is unverified (Williams 1984).
Look alikes 4
The coastal mud shrimp may be confused with ghost shrimps of the genus Callianassa. However, these species are more elongate and delicate than U. affinis, have dramatically unequal claws and a small, smooth rostrum (Ruppert & Fox 1988).
Link to Access Genomic Data 5
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=177247&lvl=0
Sources and Credits
- (c) Bernadette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Bernadette
- Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/11526948
- Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/11526953
- Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/11526951
- (c) Emily Rose Sharkey, all rights reserved
