Amphipod (order Amphipoda, family Talitridae)

Lawn shrimp, landhopper at Acton, ACT

Amphipod (order Amphipoda, family Talitridae) at Acton, ACT - 11 Sep 2022 10:45 AM
Amphipod (order Amphipoda, family Talitridae) at Acton, ACT - 11 Sep 2022 10:45 AM
Amphipod (order Amphipoda, family Talitridae) at Acton, ACT - 11 Sep 2022 10:45 AM
Amphipod (order Amphipoda, family Talitridae) at Acton, ACT - 11 Sep 2022 10:45 AM
Amphipod (order Amphipoda, family Talitridae) at Acton, ACT - 11 Sep 2022 10:45 AM
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User's notes

Assumed to be a Landhopper or Lawn Shrimp, Arcitalitrus sylvaticus, as described on page 18 of Roger Farrow’s ‘Insects of South-Eastern Australia.’ In the first image the insect’s head is at the bottom left and towards the top right is the characteristic upward pointing sixth pair of legs. The insect apparently lives on its side as seen in the images. The insect was initially sighted hopping around crazily on a road at ANBG until it eventually came to rest. In the second image there appear to be dark round objects within the insect’s exoskeleton, as seen through the gaps in its legs. In the third image one of these objects appeared, attached to the insect’s front legs, and eventually ended up at its tail end, as seen in the final image. This is the first time I’ve seen one of these insects so am unsure what this particular behaviour was. Thanks to Barbara for help with this sighting.

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Additional information

  • 5mm to 12mm Animal size

Species information

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