Zanzibar Urchin Shrimp

The Zanzibar Urchin Shrimp (Tuleariocaris zanzibarica) is a small marine species, ranging from 1.7 to 2.2 centimeters (0.67 to 0.87 inches) in length. It features a striking appearance, with a predominantly black body highlighted by prominent white longitudinal stripes. This coloration helps it blend seamlessly with its host, a sea urchin, making it well adapted for its environment.

The shrimp engages in a commensal relationship with the sea urchin. In this mutual living arrangement, the shrimp is afforded protection by the urchin's spines, while the urchin experiences no harm or benefit. This relationship enables the shrimp to feed on organic particles and detritus that gather among the urchin's spines, contributing to a balanced ecosystem.

Tuleariocaris zanzibarica is benthic, meaning it lives at the bottom of the ocean, and it thrives in tropical environments. These shrimps are gonochoric, signifying that they have distinct male and female organisms. Their reproductive behavior includes a precopulatory courtship ritual involving a combination of scent and touch, usually followed by indirect sperm transfer.