Sargassum Shrimp

Credit: Dante Fenolio/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Caption: Sargassum shrimp camouflaged in Sargassum weed. Sargassum Weed is a marine plant (a brown macroalga). Two species float, unattached to the substrate, on the surface: Sargassum natans and S. fluitans. These species are found in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and in parts of the Atlantic. The 'Sargasso Sea' was named for the mats of these plants on its surface. Dense mats can form and create huge 'floating islands,' forming bands or mats dozens of meters in length or diameter. An entire community of wildlife has adapted to life in Sargassum weed including shrimp, crabs, and fish. The weed serves as critically important larval habitat for a number of larval fish including commercially important species such as billfish, sailfish, Mahi Mahi, and flying.

Release details: Model release not required. Property release not required.

Keywords: animal, arthropod, camouflage, concealment, crustacean, crypsis, cryptic, decapod, fluitans, fucales, invertebrate, larval habitat, marine plant, mimicry, oceanic species, pelagic weed, sargassaceae, sargasso sea, sargassum, sargassum natans, sargassum shrimp, shrimp, yellow colour

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