Ceramic Ghost Shrimp

Biffarius ceramicus

Systematics: Thalassinidea Family Callianassidae

Distinguishing Characters:
The ceramic ghost shrimp grows to 80 mm long, its larger cheliped is particularly broad, and the telson is squarish. The eyes are black.

Habitat and Distribution:
The ceramic ghost shrimp prefers sandy over muddy sediments and lives on intertidal sand flats and down to shallow depths in bays from southern Australia.

General Biology:
The burrow of this species is up to one metre deep. As in most ghost shrimps of the family Callianassidae, the right cheliped is the larger in some individuals and the left in others. The chelipeds of males and females differ slightly, being stronger in males. There are also differences in the shapes of the legs under the abdomen but a microscope is needed to see these.

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.