Amphipod gallery

Amphipods of Southern Australia

Amphipods are one of the great success stories in the Crustacea. There are probably more species and more environments inhabited than for any other group. In the sea amphipods can be found burrowing in sandy and muddy sediments, living in tubes on hard surfaces, dwelling among macroalgae and sessile invertebrates, and as part of the plankton. Estuarine, freshwater and even terrestrial species are known. Many are in the size range 1-10 mm but in the deep sea scavenging species up to 30 cm have been captured.

Two very different body shapes can be found in shallow marine environments - one long, skinny and slow, the other compact and agile. Amphipods are usually flattened from side to side but this is not always so. The distinguishing characteristic of amphipods, three pairs of short tail limbs are used to flick them out of danger.

There are almost 200 families and tens of thousands of species of amphipods. Above are pictures of some of the most common amphipod species found in southern Australian waters. No common names have been invented for these species.

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Amphipod Biology

Feedback and queries should be sent to the Discovery Centre at Museum Victoria.
Please note, the Discovery Centre can help you only with questions about crustaceans from southeastern Australia. It can not advise on the care of pet hermit crabs or on crustaceans from other regions.