Researchers' Diaries

Lee Betterridge

Technical Officer, Crustacean Section, Aquatic Zoology, Western Australian Museum

Lee Betterridge, Technical Officer, Crustacean Section, Aquatic Zoology

Working in the Kimberley was an eye-opening experience for me especially being a first time visitor to the area. The strong currents and silty conditions at some spots made diving and finding crustaceans difficult - let alone collecting the animals. However, there were plenty of smaller specimens to catch within the colonies of branching Acropora corals, such as the Zoro Crabs. These crabs belong in the family Trapeziidae and are so named because of their eye mask. (Fig.1)

Fig 1: Trapeziidae - Zoro Crabs

Photo: Lee Betterridge

Copyright Western Australian Museum.

My first and most spectacular find was this large crab, Atergatis integerrimus I found clinging underneath a large coral outcrop (Fig. 2).

Fig 2: Atergatis integerrimus

Photo: Clay Bryce

Copyright Western Australian Museum.

The amazing environment on the intertidal reef platforms hid plenty of mantis shrimps, which darted from crevice to crevice (Fig. 3). Although catching crustaceans was not easy, we managed to collect around 800 specimens, which we are now processing at the WA Museum.

Fig 3: Mantis shrimp

Photo: Clay Bryce

Copyright Western Australian Museum.

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