Coleman shrimp
Periclimenes colemani
Sighting evidence at Walking Shark Bay, Halmahera
One of the most sought-after macro subjects in the Coral Triangle, Coleman shrimp live exclusively on the toxic fire urchin, where they clear a bare patch of spines to create their territory and feed on the urchin's tube feet. Pairs are always found together: a large female and a smaller male. The fire urchin's toxin deters all but a handful of specialist commensals, creating a microhabitat community that includes several other endemic shrimp species. Finding them requires meticulous searching of fire urchins in the bay's sandy patches.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Coleman shrimp is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.