Date taken: January 31, 2016 at 10:38am
Dive site: Kri Channel, Dampier Strait, North Raja Ampat, Indonesia

One of my favorite finds are the small hitchhikers hanging out on their hosts. Some relationships are parasitic while others are commensal; this shrimp gains locomotion and protection and the cucumber is unaffected. But, without this lovely leopard sea cucumber, this emperor wouldn't sit so pretty. So, I think their relationship is all about fashion!

Emperor Shrimp (Periclimenes imperator) on a Leopard sea cucumber (Bohadschia argus)

iNaturalist: Emperor shrimp observation iNaturalist: Leopard Sea cucumber observation

Wikipedia:
Periclimenes_imperator
Commensalism