General Description

Carapace middorsal ridge with 3 similar and evenly spaced teeth. Submedian spine absent. Dorsolateral ridge with 4-5 spines. Hepatic spine present. Lateral ridge with 1-4 spines. First leg subchelate (flat short claws ending in a finger fitting across an oblique palm); second legs much shorter than other legs. Third and fourth abdominal segments with middorsal crest. Up to 2.5 cm long.

Biology

Sand shrimps differ from all other caridean shrimps in having flat short chelipeds ending in a finger fitting across an oblique palm (rather than having two extended opposing fingers). All sand shrimps live on sandy sediments offshore but are so well disguised that they are rarely seen. This is the most common sand shrimp species encountered in sheltered environments such as Port Phillip and Western Port.

Distribution

Southern temperate oceans, including southern Australia.

Habitat

Subtidal and bay sediments, to 42 m depth.

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