Phyllognathia ceratophthalma (Balss, 1913) (Decapoda, Palaemonidae) is a brittle star predator

Abstract Two individuals of the palaemonid shrimp Phyllognathia cerathophthalma (Balss, 1913) were observed feeding on brittle stars (Ophiuroidea) in Bali, Indonesia. One of the shrimps was observed capturing, subduing, and devouring Ophiactis savignyi (Müller & Troschel, 1842) (Ophiactidae), whereas the other was observed feeding on a detached arm of Ophiothrix sp. (Ophiotrichidae). Therefore, P. ceratophthalma joins a small ecological guild of shrimps, which are also phylogenetically related, specialized in the predation of echinoderms, together with its congener P. simplex Fujino, 1973 and the harlequin shrimp Hymenocera picta Dana, 1852.