Mud Ghost Shrimp

Neocallichirus limosus

Systematics: Thalassinidea Family Callianassidae

Distinguishing Characters:
The mud ghost shrimp grows to only 30 mm, has a cheliped with simple fingers, a tapering telson and reduced eye pigment.

Habitat and Distribution:
The mud ghost shrimp prefers to live in fine muddy sediments from the intertidal zone down to 100 metres depth in southeastern Australia.

General Biology:
Because this species lives in fine, almost fluid mud its burrows are shallow but extend and branch horizontally. The burrow is up to 15 cm deep with chambers connected by narrow channels which the animal shores up with its chelipeds. The animals feeds on the organic matter in the sediment which it excavates. This species could be one of the most common invertebrates in Port Phillip Bay. It has been calculated that more than 10 million million individuals live there!

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.