''Alpheus macrocheles'', also known as the orange European snapping prawn, is a species of

snapping shrimp Alpheidae is a family (biology), family of caridean snapping shrimp, characterized by having asymmetrical claws, the larger of which is typically capable of producing a loud snapping sound. Other common names for animals in the group are pistol s ...

within the family

Alpheidae Alpheidae is a family of caridean snapping shrimp, characterized by having asymmetrical claws, the larger of which is typically capable of producing a loud snapping sound. Other common names for animals in the group are pistol shrimp or alpheid s ...

Description

''Alpheus macrocheles'' grow up to 35 mm long and have a cheliped morphology.Soledade, Guidomar & Terossi, Mariana & Scioli, Justin & Mantelatto, Fernando & Almeida, Alexandre. (2019). A new western Atlantic snapping shrimp of the Alpheus macrocheles group (Caridea, Alpheidae) revealed by morphological, molecular and color data. European Journal of Taxonomy. 10.5852/ejt.2019.581. The chela is highly twisted and compressed, and the dactylar articulation deviates from the perpendicular plane to the dorsal margin. There is often distinct grooves on the chela's lateral face. Most individuals of this species are bright orange, however yellow individuals also exist. Like other species within the genus '' Alpheus'' the claws of ''Alpheus macrocheles'' are asymmetrical, with one of the claws being larger than the other.Patricia Cooney and others, Autotomy and recovery in the snapping shrimp, ''Alpheus angulosus'' McClure, 2002 (Caridea: Alpheidae), ''Journal of Crustacean Biology'', Volume 37, Issue 6, November 2017, Pages 701–708, The larger claw is used for hunting small prey animals and self defence against predators and their own species.

Distribution

''Alpheus macrocheles'' can be found within the

English Channel The English Channel, "The Sleeve"; nrf, la Maunche, "The Sleeve" ( Cotentinais) or (Jèrriais), ( Guernésiais), "The Channel"; br, Mor Breizh, "Sea of Brittany"; cy, Môr Udd, "Lord's Sea"; kw, Mor Bretannek, "British Sea"; nl, Het Kan ...

along the South coast of

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...

and

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...

. It has also been documented in the

Mediterranean Sea The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the ...

, the

Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the "Old World" of Afr ...

on both sides, and even in waters around

Ascension Island Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island, 7°56′ south of the Equator in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is about from the coast of Africa and from the coast of South America. It is governed as part of the British Overseas Territory o ...

in the Central Atlantic. It has been recorded to also live off the coast of

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, In recognized minority languages of Portugal: :* mwl, República Pertuesa is a country located on the Iberian Peninsula, in Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Macaronesian ...

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and the

Azores Archipelago ) , motto= ( en, "Rather die free than subjected in peace") , anthem=( en, "Anthem of the Azores") , image_map=Locator_map_of_Azores_in_EU.svg , map_alt=Location of the Azores within the European Union , map_caption=Location of the Azores wi ...

Habitat

''Alpheus macrocheles'' is a marine species. It can be found living underwater in fissures and hollows underneath rocks and boulders. They generally favour larger boulders on the lower shoreline. The oceans current pushes sediment such as sand into the hollow, which allows ''A. macrocheles'' to excavate tunnels. Tunnels are usually shared by a breeding pair and possess two entrances, with each entrance being guarded by an individual shrimp.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q4481930 Alpheidae Crustaceans of the Atlantic Ocean Crustaceans of Brazil Crustaceans described in 1835