Major Groups | Crustacea (crustaceans) | Malacostraca (malacostracans) | Decapoda (yabbies plus) | Palaemonidae |
Palaemonidae |
Major Group: Crustacea Minor Group: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda Family: Palaemonidae |
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Ecology: Instream habitat: Palaemonid prawns occur in freshwater billabongs and in seasonally torrential streams as well as estuarine and brackish waters. They are found amongst vegetation and snags in littoral areas. Palaemon and Palaemontes are more commonly found in saline waters but also occur in freshwater. Macrobrachium is widespread in freshwaters. Macrobrachium microps lives only in underground water, usually in caves. Feeding ecology: Palaemonid prawns are omnivores and scavengers. Habit: The first and third pairs of legs are used for feeding. The enlarged second pair of legs, tipped with pincer-like claws, is used for fighting and self defence. Life history: Female palaemonid prawns display a “breeding dress” (setal changes on pleopods and abdominal segments) during the three month spawning period. They may spawn up to three times in a three month period, moulting between each spawning. Females of Macrobrachium australiense carry eggs between September and March. Macrobrachium larval development is more successful in brackish waters. |
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Information Sources: Short et al. 2013, Davie 2002a, Gooderham & Tsyrlin 2003, Hawking & Smith 1997, Ingram et al 1997, Lee & Fielder 1982, Bruce & Short 1993 | ||
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