General Description

Carapace smooth, not covered with setae; pseudorostral lobes without carinae. Uropod rami longer than or equal to uropod peduncle; uropod endopod triarticulate. Telson more than 0.5 uropod peduncle length. Body length females up to 2.3 mm, males unknown.

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. Females carry the eggs in a marsupium made from branches of the thoracic legs, making the front of the animal more swollen than normal. The eggs hatch as miniature adults.

Habitat

Soft bottom from rock and coral sand, at depths of 8-112 m.

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

Southern temperate oceans, including south-eastern Australia.

Species Group

Microcrustaceans › Cumaceans

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

2.5 mm

Diet

Organic matter

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Species Code

MoV 64

Conservation Status

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