The paron shrimp, Gelastocaris paronae, is a commensal species that associates with various sponges, such as Axinella species, in the Indo-Pacific region.
The crustacean’s camouflage is so effective that it appears to literally melt into its host. It flattens its body closely against the sponge, growing up to one inch (2.5 centimeters) long.
In this picture, the shrimp rests on top of the sponge. It has surface appendages that resemble the sponge’s spicules, the small pointed structures of calcite or silica in its skeleton.
A number of crustaceans form symbiotic associations with other organisms. For example, zebra crabs live amid the protection of sea urchin spines, and some poor-sighted species of shrimps share their burrows with a watchman goby that guards them from predators.
Matthew Oldfield is a freelance photographer based in Bali, Indonesia, specializing in editorial and documentary images from both above and below the waves. He works primarily with charities, NGO’s, and other organizations working to conserve the environment, endangered species, and disappearing cultures.
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