Southern Hooded Shrimp

Athanopsis australis

Systematics: Caridea Family Alpheidae

Distinguishing Characters:
The hoods on the carapace cover only part of the eyes and the large cheliped has an elbow so that the claw can be folded back. The translucent body with brightly coloured digestive gland is 16 mm long.

Habitat and Distribution:
The southern hooded shrimp is rare, living in sandy sediments about 8 m deep in Victoria.

General Biology:
Only three specimens of this species have ever been collected and it has never been observed alive. The claw is so different from that of other members of the Alpheidae, the snapping shrimps, that its use cannot be the same.

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.