General Description

Rostrum with 7-10 dorsal teeth, usually 8, 2-3 posterior to orbit of the eye; 4-6 ventral teeth, usually 5. Branchiostegal spine falling short of carapace margin. Branchiostegal groove not running back along the carapace from hepatic spine. Fifth segment (carpus) of second leg (pereopod 2) longer than fourth segment (merus); fixed finger with cutting edge bearing 2 proximal teeth; 1 tooth between these on last segment (dactylus). Anteroventral corner of carapace square or slightly rounded. Distinct oblique and transverse red lines on carapace; few scattered red, olive and black chromatophores forming indistinct transverse lines on abdominal somites; antennule inner flagellum with definite red and white bars, persisting as purple bars in ethanol-preserved specimens. Up to 4 cm long.

Biology

This species is one of the most common shallow water shrimp found in southern Australia. It is most commonly found on muddy soft sediments especially in the shelter of seagrasses. When alive the shrimp is translucent, marked with fine purple-red lines running along the carapace and more sparsely on the abdomen. This species has been commonly referred to as Macrobrachium intermedium in the ecological literature but has since been placed in the genus Palaemon.

Habitat

Seagrass and algae, 0-22 m depth.

Soft substrates

Seagrass meadows

Reefs

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

Indo-west Pacific Oceans, including southern Australia.

Species Group

Prawns, shrimps, lobsters › Shrimps

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

4 cm

Diet

Organic matter

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Species Code

MoV 1001

Conservation Status

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