Sponge Shrimp

Acutigebia simsoni

Systematics: Thalassinidea Family Upogebiidae

Distinguishing Characters:
The sponge shrimp grows to about 40 mm long, has a compact broad abdomen, and a trilobed rostrum over the eyestalks. The middle lobe of the rostrum is longer than the ones on the sides and is covered with tubercles and hairs. The chelipeds are the same as each other.

Habitat and Distribution:
The species lives intertidally throughout Australia.

General Biology:
The sponge shrimp lives in crevices in rock, especially porous limestone, and often in male-female pairs. They can only be found by destroying their habitat so are rarely seen.

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.