Commensal Sponge Shrimp

The Commensal Sponge Shrimp, scientifically known as Thaumastocaris streptopus, is a small marine creature found in tropical waters. This shrimp typically resides in the Indo-West Pacific region, with sightings reported from places like Tanzania, 🇯🇴 Jordan, the Comoro Islands, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇦🇺 Australia, and 🇳🇨 New Caledonia (🇫🇷 Overseas France).

Living at ocean depths ranging from 1 to 141 meters (3 to 463 feet), this shrimp is considered pelagic, meaning it inhabits the open sea rather than areas close to the shore or the sea floor. The shrimp is quite small, reaching up to 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches) in length, and is often found dwelling inside tube sponges, particularly those of the species Niphates olemda.

The Commensal Sponge Shrimp belongs to the order Decapoda, a group that is mostly composed of species with separate sexes, known as gonochoric. In terms of mating behavior, these shrimps engage in a precopulatory courtship ritual to attract mates. This involves the use of chemical signals, known as olfactory cues, and physical interactions, known as tactile cues. The transfer of sperm in these shrimp is usually indirect.