Author Koh Lin ◦
If you were around in the 80’s to 90’s, you are likely to remember the “Shrimp on the barbie” promotion starring Paul Hogan. The actual slogan of the advertisement by the Australian Tourism Commission was “Come and say G’day“. The advert certainly springs to mind when I think about “shrimps”, but the ones we found in Central Australia are very different to the ones on the barbie.
It was certainly a learning experience for me, to know that we have shrimps here in Central Australia… and I got to see them in real life.
During a particular wet period in Central Australia, the claypans had filled with water and it was here we discovered the Shield Shrimp (Triops australiensis).
We saw this Clam Shrimp (class Branchiopoda, order/suborder Spinicaudata) at the Ilparpa Claypans in Central Australia, during a particular wet period in February 2010 (definitely too small for us to eat… 🙂).
Central Australia also has slugs, such as the Ambigolimax spp (Keelback Slug) pictured here in Alice Springs. This one is an invasive species that was most likely introduced here from garden plants and produce that were brought into Alice Springs.
Other interesting slugs and snails in Australia (we have covered on Ausemade) include the Kaputar Pink Slug and Red Triangle Slug (Triboniophorus graeffei).
There is also the Asian Trampsnail (Bradybaena similaris), as seen in the Gold Coast.
There is also the carnivorous Otway Black Snails pictured here from the Otway Ranges in Victoria, that eat insect larvae, earthworms, slugs and other snail species.
Other pages of interest include:
- Ambigolimax spp (Keelback Slug)
- Asian Tramp Snail
- Granulomelon adcockianum
- Kaputar Pink Slug
- Otway Black Snail
- Red Triangle Slug
