Emperor Shrimp Riding a Sea Cucumber

Emperor Shrimp Riding a Sea Cucumber

Emperor Shrimp spend most of their lives riding on sea cucumbers, or other mounts including nudibranchs. These provide them with transportation and, presumably, access to feeding grounds. A friendly relative (of mine, not the shrimp) remarked that they resemble the worm riders in Dune, complete with hooks to hold them on the worm (or in this case, cucumber). I have tried sea cucumber, which in my case resembled cold gelatin containing fibers. This was during the Tiananmen Square demonstrations in Beijing. I'd come for a scientific meeting, but the hotel staff had left to demonstrate, and slices of sea cucumber was all that was left to eat. No emperor shrimp were attached.

Closeup of the Emperor Shrimp

I think the face of the Emperor Shrimp looks a little self-satisfied. Its scientific name is Periclimenes imperator.