Notes on Merguia oligodon (De Man 1888) the Indo-Pacific semi-terrestrial shrimp (Hippolytidae Natantia)

Abstract

Merguia oligodon (De Man 1888), is one of the two known species of semi-terrestrial shrimp. It is very common in some Kenyan mangroves, where it can be found among the aerial roots of Rhizophora mucronata. Active only at night, M. oligodon can be seen climbing spontaneously up the mangrove roots and trunks up to 80 cm above ground level. At high water, the shrimps always stay in the vicinity of the trunks and roots; even in this phase some individuals still prefer to remain out of the water and graze on the mangrove bark.

Key Words:

• Merguia oligodon
• mangrove ecology
• semi-terrestrial decapods
• Hyppolytidae