Arrow Shrimp

Tozeuma carolinense

The Arrow Shrimp, known scientifically as Tozeuma carolinense, is a crustacean with a long, slender body reaching up to 5 cm in length. Its distinctive feature is a sharp, elongated rostrum with a smooth top and a toothed underside. The shrimp's semi-transparent carapace can display a variety of colors such as green, white, red, brown, and purple, aiding in its ability to blend into its environment. This species is adept at camouflage, often aligning itself with seagrass to evade predators. When in danger, it tends to stay still to maintain its disguise, making it a challenging find for divers. This shrimp is distributed across the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and along the East Coast of the United States, though it is less frequently seen north of Cape Hatteras. It is typically found in shallow waters, with most sightings recorded at depths of less than 10 meters. The Arrow Shrimp inhabits rocky substrates and seagrass beds, thriving in tropical climates and intertidal zones with submerged vegetation. The conservation status of the Arrow Shrimp has not been assessed by the IUCN Red List.