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
Kingdom: | Animalia |
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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 |
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Scientific Name Authorship: | Stimpson |
Commercial Impact: | This species is targeted by the aquarium trade |
Conservation Assessment: | Data Deficient |
Cite this page
Western Australian Museum Collections https://museum.wa.gov.au/online-collections/names/Tozeuma-lanceolatum
Accessed 3 Sep 2023
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