manitis shrimp in the Arabian Gulf

I was diving just of the atlantis resort on the wreck of a PIA aeroplane that was dumped as a artificial reef and i came across this critter on top of the fusealge. I have dived for a lot of years in the gulf and have never encountered this creature before. the picture is not as sharp as i would have liked due to a horrendous swell and having a 105mm lens on focus becam a little difficult. Does anyone know its full name and if they are common here?

thanks..

a top down view for clarity - the shrimp was about 2-3 cm long or so..

Hi Alistair,

it looks like it might be a Gonodactylellus lanchesteri. My book reference has an image of one from Jordan.

Cheers,

Jim.

And now in the Arabian gulf.

Thanks Jim!

cheers.