PORT PHILLIP BAY


Sea Centipede 

Haliophasma cribense Poore, 1975

View scientific description and taxonomy

General Description

Head wider than long; rostrum broad, rounded-truncate, longer than anterolateral lobes. Pereon with dorsolateral grooves and few pits dorsally, separated by deep pitted grooves. Palm of first leg on axis of limb.

Biology

This isopod is an active predator that uses its hook-like hands to grasp its prey and its biting mouthparts to make a meal of it. Males have longer antennae and larger eyes than juveniles or females and can swim in search of mates. The Anthuridae and similar families are common and diverse on sandy and muddy sediments and can build tubes.

Habitat

Fine sand-mud sediment, from depths of 8-140 m

Reefs

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Microcrustaceans Isopods

Depth

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

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

16 mm

Diet

Organic matter

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Species Code

MoV 353

Conservation Status

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

Author

article author Taylor, J.

Dr. Jo Taylor is the Sciences Collections Online Coordinator at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Poore, G.C.B.

Dr. Gary Poore is Principal Curator Emeritus at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Taylor, J. & Poore, G.C.B., 2011, Sea Centipede, Haliophasma cribense, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 08 Jul 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/5299

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