PORT PHILLIP BAY


Comma Shrimp 

Gephyrocuma pala Hale, 1936

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Malacostraca
Subclass:
Eumalacostraca
Superorder:
Peracarida
Order:
Cumacea
Family:
Bodotriidae
Genus:
Gephyrocuma
Species:
pala

General Description

Telson fused to pleonite 6. Body length up to 2.5 mm.

Biology

Gephyrocuma pala individuals are active swimmers and can 'skip' rapidly across the sediment surface with a series of 'flea-like' hops. They are reportedly fast burrowers in sandy sediments where they enter the sand with the thorax (body) in an upright position.

Habitat

Sandy sediments, in depth of 4-50 m.

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

Southern temperate oceans, including western and southern 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 67

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, Comma Shrimp, Gephyrocuma pala, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 16 Oct 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/5280

Text: creative commons cc by licence