Alpheus macellarius Chace, 1988
Alpheus macellarius is an Indo-West Pacific snapping shrimp that lives in burrows in association with gobiid fishes. A. macellarius feeds on seagrass and sediment organic matter in seagrass beds, storing shredded seagrass in special chambers in their burrows, and (along with other burrowing species) are thought to serve an important role in in nutrient cycling in seagrass meadows.
Alpheus macellarius belongs to the Brevirostris species group within the genus Alpheus (Chace 1988). The species name is derived from the Latin word for "of the meat or provision market," and refers to the source of the holotype of the species (Cebu Market). Type locality: Cebu market and Dupon Bay, Leyte, Philippines (Chace 1988), types stored at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution (USNM). Holotype: USNM 205663.
Alpheus macellarius lives in burrows in muddy bottoms or seagrass beds in associaiton with gobiid fish. Laboratory observations and stable isotope studies suggest these shrimp primarily feed on seagrass and sediment organic matter (Palomar et al. 2004). A. macellarius actively cuts fresh seagrass leaves, shreds them, and stores them in special chambers in their burrows, and along with other burrowing species may function in nutrient cycling in seagrass meadows (Vonk et al. 2008). Behavioral observations suggest shrimps build and maintain burrows in the morning, and groom/forage/feed primarily in the afternoon (Palomar et al. 2004, 2005).
Lives in burrows in muddy substrates in association with gobiid fish (Cryptocentrus octafasciatus and Cryptocentrus singapurensis) (Palomar et al. 2004).
Maximum body size is 12 mm (carapace length) (Chace 1988).
Indo-West Pacific: South-Central Philippines (Chace 1988); south Sulawesi, Indonesia (Vonk et al. 2008).