Sashimi Shrimp

Thorella cobourgi

The Sashimi Shrimp is one of the most sought-after tiny subjects among underwater macro photographers visiting Romblon, Philippines. Known for its extraordinary colour combinations, this small shrimp may display vivid pink, red, green, white, orange, brown or contrasting two-toned patterns. The nickname “Sashimi Shrimp” reflects the appearance of certain individuals whose salmon-pink bodies and green heads resemble Japanese sashimi accompanied by wasabi. Despite its popularity with underwater photographers, the precise scientific identification of the shrimp commonly known by this name remains unresolved. Extraordinary Colours in a Tiny Animal One of the most fascinating features of the Sashimi Shrimp is its remarkable variation in colour. Photographic records from Romblon include individuals with pink bodies and green heads, red-and-white combinations, pale single-colour forms and many other distinctive patterns. Some individuals have clearly separated colours on the carapace and abdomen, while others show additional colour differences near the tail. These variations make them particularly appealing subjects for super-macro photography. However, colour alone is not sufficient to determine whether all photographed individuals belong to a single species. Differences in colour should not automatically be interpreted as differences in sex, age or developmental stage. A Special Subject for Night Diving Sashimi Shrimps are closely associated with night-dive photography in Romblon. Several underwater photographers have documented encounters after dark, often describing individuals only a few millimetres in length. Their minute size can make them extremely difficult to distinguish from the surrounding seabed. Some published field accounts describe the use of ultraviolet or flu