Opossum Shrimps of Southern Australia

As with many crustacean groups the Mysidacea brood the eggs and young giving them the common name of opossum shrimps. They swim in dense swarms of hundreds or thousands of individuals often quite close to the sea floor where they can be seen while snorkelling over sand or seagrass. The animal itself is glassy transparent and detection is possible only when the pairs of black eyes are spotted darting about.

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.