Ghost shrimps

Dig, dig, dig. Dig, dig, dig…

Ghost shrimps are also called marine yabbies, pink nippers, burrowing shrimps, ghost nippers, nippers, yabbies and Australian ghost shrimps.
Ghost shrimps are often used as bait for fishing and are collected by using yabby pumps.
The ghost shrimp’s scientific name is Trypaea australiensis, and is also known as Callianassa australiensis, and they are from the family of crustaceans.
Ghost shrimps live in flat sandy or muddy areas which are covered by tidal salt waters.
Ghost shrimps eat very small organic matter and plankton.

Ghost shrimps live approximately 60 cm (2 feet) below the surface and create tunnels underground which generally contain water.
Ghost shrimps grow up to 7.5cm (3 inches) long, and have soft, flexible bodies, that are almost transparent.
Ghost shrimps have a large claw that sometimes grows up to half the size of itself, and the male’s claw is often larger than the female’s.
One ghost shrimp may have multiple surface entrances to its main tunnel.
The Australian ghost shrimps are native to the eastern coast of Australia.