Bubble Coral Shrimp
Palaemonella philippinensis
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Subphylum
- Crustacea
- Class
- Malacostraca
- Order
- Decapoda
- Family
- Palaemonidae
- Genus
- Palaemonella
- Species
- Palaemonella philippinensis
The bubble coral shrimp (Palaemonella philippinensis, formerly Vir philippinensis) is a transparent shrimp with purple-tipped legs that lives on bubble corals. Its almost invisible body and violet markings make it a favourite of macro photographers.
Reaching about 1-2 cm, it shelters among the grape-like vesicles of Plerogyra and Physogyra corals, often in pairs, and feeds on mucus and particles. The species was described from the Philippines and has since been moved from Vir to the genus Palaemonella.
Bubble corals on reefs across the Philippines are home to this shrimp. Look carefully between the bubbles with a torch, as the shrimp is easiest to spot by its coloured leg tips.