The Emperor shrimp Zenopontonia rex lives usually in pairs in association with a number of different invertebrates, including holothurians, starfish, nudibranchs and occasionally even soft corals. The first few shots below show shrimp on Opheodesoma or similar sea cucumbers. There was a population bloom in November 2019, when we saw far more on more different hosts than we had before.
Here is a pair on a sea pen.
Next shows shrimp on the starfish Echinaster luzonicus.
Shows the serrated rostrum.
On Echinaster luzonicus that is also occupied by Zenopontonia soror (red shrimp at bottom of photo).
It was unusual to see one just on a blade of algae.
They are found on a variety of sea slugs, including the large Pleurobranchus weberi immediately below.
We also saw them on Melibe viridis.
And on Polybranchia jannae.
On a species of Thecacera.
On Jorunna rubescens.
On Hypselodoris tryoni.
Those on large Hexabranchus sanguineus nudibranchs had a different color helping them to blend in.
Created 14 October 2021
Updated 1 May 2023