Balmain bug

Ibacus peronii

Systematics:Panulira Family Scyllaridae

Distinguishing Characters:
The carapace of scyllarids, sometimes called slipper lobsters, is strongly flattened with the antennae flat plates too. The abdomen is short and flattened. In this species the eyestalks are hidden between the antennal plates and the carapace. The Balmain bug is dull reddish and grows to 230 mm in length.

Habitat and Distribution:
The Balmain bug is distributed across southern Australia from southern Queensland to central Western Australia. It lives on soft sand and mud at depths between 10 and 250 m.

General Biology:
This is the most common species of slipper lobster encountered in southeastern Australia where it lives in bays and on the shelf. It is excellent eating but not as popular as rock lobster. The animal’s flat shape enables it to partly bury in the exposed soft sediments where it lives.

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.