Freshwater Prawn (3-4cm)
Freshwater Shrimp are transparent, with a very thin and smooth outer shell that is periodically shed as they grow. They have a large spine sticking out at the front of the head and a fantail, which can be speckled with blue or green markings. Freshwater Shrimp have 10 jointed legs (they are decapods; deca–ten, pod - leg), well-developed swimmerets (like fans under their tail), and a body that is flattened sideways. They are larger than glass shrimp and can grow up to 10cm in length. Freshwater Shrimp mainly eat decomposing vegetation, bacteria, and particles of algae. They use their first two pairs of legs to grab the food and put it in their mouth.
The Macrobrachium australiense also known as the Eastern Longarm shrimp, is a species of freshwater shrimp that is native to the eastern coast of Australia. They are known for their long arms and can grow up to 20 centimeters in length, making them one of the largest freshwater shrimp species in Australia.
The Eastern Longarm shrimp typically inhabit streams, rivers, and other freshwater habitats, where they feed on a variety of organisms such as algae, aquatic plants, and small invertebrates. They are generally more active at night and are known to burrow in soft sediment during the day.
In terms of reproduction, the Eastern Longarm shrimp are sexually dimorphic, with the males having enlarged second pair of walking legs which they use to clasp onto the female during mating. Females carry their eggs on their abdomen until they hatch into free-swimming larvae.
| Scientific Name | Macrobrachium australiense |
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