Identification
Permissions for Use
© Jeffrey N. Jeffords. Please remember that all photographs by Jeffrey N. Jeffords appearing on the Animal Diversity Web are copyrighted, and may not be used in any form, even on the Internet, without a licensing agreement. Exception: teachers and educators using the material in a classroom setting, students using this material for school assignments; or anyone for personal, non-commmercial use, such as screen savers. Unauthorized usage is a violation of the Federal Copyright Law. E-mail me for permission to use at this address: 
seaslugs@hotmail.com
Location
Luzon Island, Philippines
The colorful Banded Coral Shrimp is a common sight on nearly every Indo-Pacific ocean reef. Also known as a Cleaner Shrimp or Barber-Pole Shrimp, it often feeds on the parasites that cooperative fish or eels allow it to pick off their bodies. I have witnessed moray eels being cleaned by these fascinating shrimp, an amazing sight since these inch-long animals are certainly no match for the predatory jaws and big appetite of a large eel. The shrimp actually crawl all over the animals they are cleaning, using their numerous sets of claws and chelipeds to dine on a meal of parasites. To the fish or eel, the shrimp is performing the service of parasite removal, and in turn the shrimp gets a free meal. Some groups of these shrimp are known to have "cleaning stations" or designated places on the reef where several shrimp climb on a fish that actually seeks out their services.
Jeffrey N. Jeffords (photographer, copyright holder, identification)
