The Ocellated shrimp (Tozeuma lanceolatum) collected from the Dampier Archipelago (Photo: Andrew Hosie)

Ocellated shrimp

Tozeuma lanceolatum

The ocellated shrimp mimic the host soft coral host in order to camouflage themselves from predators. The elongated body helps them to hide behind the narrow branches of the host.

Morphology

Ocellated shrimp are very elongate, the rostrum is longer than the caraace and cut with sharp saw-like teeth. The colour is to help it camouflage in with it's host soft coral. This shrimp gets it's name from the eye-like spots on its abdomen.

Evolution

The genus Tozeuma contains 11 species, all with the characteristically elongated body and rostrum. They are all associated with long thin sessile organisms and mimic the host species colours. Some species areassociated with seagrass blades and are green, others are found on hydroids and are translucent.

Habitat

Marine

Found associated with sea whips and soft corals

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Subclass: Eumalacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Caridea
Superfamily: Alpheoidea
Family: Hippolytidae
Genus: Tozeuma
Species: lanceolata
Name Published Year: 1860
Scientific Name Authorship: Stimpson
Commercial Impact: 

This species is targeted by the aquarium trade

Conservation Assessment: Data Deficient

Net Conservation Benefits Fund

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Western Australian Museum Collections https://museum.wa.gov.au/online-collections/names/Tozeuma-lanceolatum
Accessed 3 Sep 2023

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