Filhollianassa filholi

Filhollianassa filholi is a ghost shrimp of the family Callianassidae, endemic to New Zealand, which grows up to long. It was known as Biffarius filholi until a 2019 taxonomic revision of the group. It is also known as a yabby in Australia.

Taxonomy and etymology

Filhollianassa filholi was originally described by Alphonse Milne-Edwards as Callianassa filholi A. Milne-Edwards, 1879. It was named after Henri Filhol, who collected specimens of it from Stewart Island, New Zealand.

Description

Filhollianassa filholi live in an underground burrow in sand. The shrimp has flap-like abdominal appendages called pleopod which it uses for swimming and creating water movement through its burrow. It has the ability to turn somersaults while moving through its tunnels. It uses its wide tail fan for stabilisation within the burrow. The male has two claws of which one is noticeably larger than the other. Fertilised eggs, yellow in colour, are carried by the female on her abdomen.