Corophium acherusicum

Systematics: Amphipoda Family Corophiidae

Distinguishing Characters:
Corophium acherusicum is a brown amphipod flattened from top to bottom, with a very short abdomen, hairy second walking legs, and huge antennae with three minute spines at the end of the biggest segment. Adults are 5 mm long.

General Biology:
This species of Corophium is not a native of Australia but has been introduced to harbours here on the bottoms of ships travelling from England and Europe. It lives in u-shaped silky tubes which it secretes from glands in its legs and attaches to sediments, rocks and wharf piles especially in estuaries. It uses the long rows of hairs on its anterior legs to filter food from the water.

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.