scubaseason

Pederson Cleaner Shrimp

Ancylomenes pedersoni

Sighting evidence at Gasparee Island Caves, Trinidad

Pederson cleaner shrimp establish cleaning stations at the cave mouth and in shallow cavern sections, waving their antennae to attract passing fish. They remove parasites and dead tissue from fish clients including moray eels and grouper, providing a service that maintains reef fish health. Their abundance at Gasparee reflects the mix of open-reef fish visiting the caves and the protected substrate the caves offer.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Pederson Cleaner Shrimp is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.