Little Shrimp

Hippolyte caradina

Systematics: Caridea Family Hippolytidae

Distinguishing Characters:
A short needle-like rostrum, with teeth on both top and bottom, protrudes from the front of the carapace. The two pairs of chelipeds are shorter than the other legs. The colourful body is only 12 mm long maximum, with a strong bend in the abdomen, and often with tufts of short hairs on the back.

Habitat and Distribution:
The little shrimp lives among algae and seagrass from the subtidal down to 80 m depth throughout southern Australia.

General Biology:
Although the species is commonly dredged in sheltered shelf water nothing is known of its biology. Like all carideans the female carries the eggs under the abdomen which is more swollen than in males.

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.