Come on, just a bit closer. That’s it, just a little bit more – don’t be scared now.  Yes down here. Just a moment of your time if you would…

Now before rushing off to see all those “big things” – fish, rays, sharks, dugongs, penguins and the host of other much talked about creatures on display at the Sydney Aquarium – I need you to consider me. Why – because whilst I never get put on those glossy posters and fancy adds with the rest of the super cool pin-up crew, I’m still very special in my own way.  I’m “The Caprellid” – hear me roar.

So what is a Caprellid?

We are very small – usually less than 1cm – marine crustaceans (you know like crabs and lobsters). We are typically pale amber or white in colour and found in a diverse range of habitats from shallow estuarine waters as cold as -2 C to the heated waters of deep ocean hydrothermal vents. We spend the majority of our entire life attached to some form of substrate — usually seaweeds and or non-mobile invertebrates such as barnacles and mussels as well as man-made structures such as wharfs, ropes, and nets used in aquaculture.

What do I do?

We have a habit of using our hind legs to cling on whilst our body extends vertically up into the water with our claws spread wide as we bend side to side waving through the water – waiting for some food to drift by – or just chilling out. If I had a willing human available to demonstrate our behavior, I would ask them to stand with a bit of a hunch then hold up both hands and wave them whilst shifting their hips from side to side – sort of like a rhythmically gyrating praying mantis in the groove at Woodstock.

What do I eat?

Well I’m an omnivorous opportunist, meaning that I eat just about anything that passes by and will fit in my mouth, from single celled algae to worms and larval fish. Try as I may though, I just can’t seem to bulk up – hence my nick name “Skeleton Shrimp” – whilst notably unbecoming, truth be known it’s a pretty good description for me.

Who’s looking to eat me?

Unfortunately some fish like to dine on us, but looking at the big picture from a philanthropic perspective this is where we play such a crucial link in the food chain -between those single celled algae and the fish that predate on us.

How do we reproduce?

Many moons ago I found a suitable ladyfriend (Cassie) to mate with – she was gorgeous. We spent countless hours swaying harmoniously in the current together – good times. She told me that she had a perfect brood pouch to hold our fertilized eggs till the day that they would emerge as ready to go mini me’s. However what she was reluctant to tell me was that she also had a bad habit of killing her partner with her venomous claw after mating– needless to say things never worked out between us.

“Good Times” – Ex-girlfriend Cassie (left) and I.

 

Til next you visit….

So next time, like I said before, STOP……Take a closer look, and you might see me or one of my mates just hanging around. Then you’ll be able to yell out to everyone in the aquarium and say: “I know what that is – WOW a Caprellid – how cool. Those show pony sharks and the like have got nothing on this little dude.”

Peace out – The Caprellid