General Description

Pleopods each with only one ramus, furnished with modified, non-plumose setae. Telson present. Female with small exopods on 3rd maxilliped and 3rd-4th pereopods. Adult male with basis of 1st-4th pereopods greatly expanded and with flagellum of second antenna reaching at least to end of pleon.

Biology

Cumaceans burrow into the surface of sandy and muddy sediments but can also be found in the sediment trapped among macroalgae. At night especially cumaceans can be active swimmers in the open water and this is probably where mating occurs. Food is obtained by filtering water just above the sediment and grazing on the surface of sand grains. Cumaceans can be dug out of sandy sediment but the most effective way of catching them is by attracting them to lights at night.

Habitat

Soft bottom, from sand, to depths of 12 m.

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

Southern temperate oceans, including western and southern Australia.

Species Group

Microcrustaceans › Cumaceans

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

3.5 mm

Diet

Organic matter

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Species Code

MoV 984

Conservation Status

• DSE Advisory List : Not listed
• EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
• IUCN Red List : Not listed