Cuapetes tenuipes (Red claw Cuapetes shrimp)
Transparent shrimp species with a long rostrum and orange-tipped chelipeds. The rostrum has 8-10 spines on the upper side, white line connecting the eyes.
Unassessed by the IUCN Red list, but considered to be a widespread species in tropical waters. Because it is easily overlooked, the number of sightings is low.
It is found from Eastern Africa and the Red Sea to the IndoPacific and Australia. It is a free living species, often found in intertidal pools, holes, crevices, or under ledges, but also found on anemones and bubble coral (Plerogyra), in a large depth range of 1-160 meters.
Members of the order Decapoda are mostly gonochoric, sperm transfer is indirect usually through copulation. Precopulatory courtship ritual is common. Fertilization is usually external but may be internal.
Up to 3,5-4cm.
It feeds on parasites, algae and plankton.
There are various species of Cuapetes, that have marginal differences, so identification can be tricky.
