Striped Shrimp

Macrobrachium intermedium

Systematics: Caridea Family Palaemonidae

Distinguishing Characters:
The striped shrimp is glassy clear, with red lines across the abdomen. The body is up to 60 mm long and slightly bent between the fourth and fifth segments of the abdomen. There may be more than one similar species masquerading under this name in southern Australia.

Habitat and Distribution:
The striped shrimp lives on shallow muddy bottoms, often among algae and seagrasses in southeastern Australia.

General Biology:
Striped shrimps are common active animals, difficult to see because they are translucent and hide among algae and seagrasses. They are active scavengers, feeding on dead sh ellfish and fishes, and may be caught with baited traps especially at night.

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.