Sydney Comb Shrimp

Leptochela sydniensis

Systematics: Caridea Family Pasiphaeidae

Distinguishing Characters:
The carapace does not have a long rostrum, only a short spike between the eyes. The fingers of the two pairs of chelipeds are microscopically comb-like. The maximum length is 20 mm mm.

Habitat and Distribution:
The Sydney comb shrimp lives on the seafloor from the subtidal down to about 400 m depth and is common across all of the southern Australian coast.

General Biology:
The family Pasiphaeidae, to which this species belongs, is noted for the opposing rows of fine spine-like teeth on the fingers of the chelipeds. These would seem to make the shrimp a fierce predator but nothing is known of its behaviour.

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.