Ghost and Sponge Shrimps of Southern Australia

Thalassinidean shrimps, ghost shrimps and sponge shrimps, are rarely seen because they live buried in mud, crevices in coral or in cracks in rocks. But some are well known to fisherman. All have a carapace covering the thorax to which the legs and chelipeds are attached, and a long flexible tail. Ghost shrimps are particularly elongate, soft bodied and usually very pale in colour. Some species in the lagoons of tropical reefs grow to 30 cm long and build high conical mounds of sand around the mouths of their burrows. Sponge shrimps are more compact. There are more than 60 species in Australia.

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.