Rhynchocinetes durbanensis (tag.M) A small crustacean of the order Decapoda, family Rhynchocinetidae; it is widespread in the Indian Ocean and the tropical Pacific Ocean, endemic to the Red Sea. The body has the typical shape of astacoid decapods, clearly divided into two parts, cephalothorax and abdomen, called pereon and pleon respectively; the cephalothorax is robust, short, stocky and completely covered by a chitinous armor impregnated with calcareous salts called carapace; on the anterior part of the cephalothorax there is a long, serrated and vertically mobile rostrum, which is generally carried facing upwards; next to the rostrum are two pairs of antennae; the smaller antennae face forward while the longer and more mobile ones are oriented in different positions, both forward and backward; The eyes, very large and mobile, are supported by a short, articulated peduncle; the oral opening is equipped with two pairs of maxillae and one pair of mandibles; surrounding the oral opening are three pairs of modified limbs, called maxillipeds, used to bring food to the mouth; on the lower part of the cephalothorax are five pairs of ambulacral limbs, called pereiopods; males develop a pair of claws on the first pair of pereiopods. The abdomen, slightly longer than the cephalothorax, is also covered with a chitinous armor impregnated with calcium salts and has a characteristic hump, hence the curious common name; under the abdomen are six pairs of appendages, called pleopods, which are used to stir the water near the gills and, in females, to support the eggs; The abdomen ends in a segment, called the telson, flanked by a pair of flat appendages, called the uropods; each of the two uropods is divided into three parts, one proximal and two distal; the latter, shaped like an elongated fan, are called the endopidium, the innermost, and the esopidium, the outermost; the telson and the uropods form the tail of Rhynchocinetes durbanensis, which is generally carried closed like a brush. The carapace and abdomen are semi-transparent, with light yellowish reflections, and crossed, in all directions, by red stripes that separate annular spots of the same color; above, in the center of the cephalothorax, there is a white or cream-colored, Y-shaped pattern, bordered by a thin, dark red line that separates three patterns composed of two annular spots of the same color; In the center of the abdomen is a large transverse stripe, always white or cream in color, bordered by a thin brown line; the Pereiopods also have longitudinal red stripes. The Rhynchocinetes durbanensis is very similar to the Rhynchocinetes australis and the Rhynchocinetes uritai, from which it can be distinguished by its ring-shaped spots and the shape of the spot on the upper part of the cephalothorax: Y-shaped in the former, rounded fork-shaped in the latter, and absent in the latter. In nature, the Rhynchocinetes durbanensis lives safe from predators in rock crevices, on rocky overhangs, among coral debris, in cracks, crevices, and caves, alone or, more often, in small groups. This friendly crustacean requires an aquarium full of crevices and hiding places and a particularly long period of acclimation to the dark, as in different conditions it could easily die of fright. Once well-acclimated, it is not fearful, lively, and constantly moving around the tank. It is recommended to keep it in small groups, preferably consisting of one male and several females. The Rhynchocinetes durbanensis is a very robust invertebrate, undemanding when it comes to the chemical and physical characteristics of the water. It simply requires well-oxygenated and filtered water, ideally with a pressurized external filter with an hourly flow rate of at least four times the aquarium's capacity. It is best to prepare the aquarium water with high-quality synthetic sea salts; the higher cost will quickly pay for itself. However, to keep our pet in perfect condition, it is always advisable to perform parti
