Banded boxer shrimp, Stenopus hispidus, close-up from the Red Sea. These shrimps are providing cleaning service to others.

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These cleaner shrimp play an essential role within the reef community as they provide cleaning service to reef fish. To attract potential "customers" they seesaw back and forwards signalizing that they are ready to clean . When a fish approaches they fill scan their skin for parasites and remove them. This a form of symbiosis between customer and service provider (shrimp). The shrimp benefits consuming parasites as food and the fish gets rid of them. Cleaner shrimp can usually be found under small holes or overhangs within the reef and are relatively stationary. Usually they work in pairs. They can grow up to 5 cm. This picture was taken in the Red Sea, Egypt, in 2008.

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Size: 5653px × 3685px
Location: Egypt
Photo credit: © Malcolm Ross / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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