Acutigebia danai

Upogebia danai
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Crustacea
Class:	Malacostraca
Subclass:	Eumalacostraca
Order:	Decapoda
Suborder:	Pleocyemata
Infraorder:	Thalassinidea
Family:	Upogebiidae
Genus:	Upogebia
Species:	U. danai
Binomial name
Upogebia danai Miers

Upogebia danai is a mud shrimp of the family Upogebiidae, endemic to New Zealand, in mudflats and muddy sand beaches at low tide level.

Upogebia danai lives in a permanent burrow including turning chambers and two entrances, in pairs, a male and a female. The female can be identified by having an extra pair of abdominal limbs. The large hairy first legs and the smaller second pair form a sieve used to strain detritus food from the water current created by the swimming limbs on the underside of the abdomen. When feeding the shrimp moves close to the opening of its burrow.

Adult length is up to 50 mm. Coloration is pale orange-brown.

References

• Miller M & Batt G, Reef and Beach Life of New Zealand, William Collins (New Zealand) Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1973