Tahitian Prawn

macrobrachium lar

The Tahitian Prawn, scientifically known as Macrobrachium lar, is an impressive freshwater crustacean native to the tropical streams and rivers of the Indo-Pacific region. This resilient decapod is highly regarded for its fascinating amphidromous life cycle, starting its life as larvae in brackish estuaries or the ocean before embarking on a challenging upstream migration into pristine mountain streams. Known for their distinctively long claws and active behavior, these prawns are vital ecological contributors, helping clean riverbeds by scavenging and keeping aquatic insect populations in check. They are highly adaptable creatures, capable of scaling wet rock faces to bypass waterfalls during their migration, which makes them a true marvel of river ecosystems.

Hábitat: Typically found in clear, fast-flowing freshwater streams and rivers with rocky substrates and overhanging vegetation throughout the Indo-Pacific islands.

Aspecto

This large prawn is characterized by its robust, marbled dark brown to deep bluish-black body, often with subtle lighter patterning along the abdominal segments. Mature males are particularly striking, possessing an exceptionally long and robust second pair of walking legs modified into powerful claws, which are often uneven in size and display a blue-grey coloration. The carapace is smooth and tough, while its long, sensitive antennae extend forward to detect prey and predators. Fully grown specimens typically measure between 10 to 18 centimeters in length, excluding their claws.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloArthropodaClaseMalacostracaOrdenDecapodaFamiliaPalaemonidaeGéneroMacrobrachium

Tahitian Prawn

Categoría

Animal

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Despite living in freshwater as adults, their larvae cannot survive without saltwater, requiring a journey to the ocean and back.

During upstream migration, juvenile Tahitian Prawns can climb vertical rock faces of waterfalls by gripping onto wet moss and algae.

Males have highly asymmetrical claws, with one often being much larger and stronger, used for defending territories and courting females.

Habilidades especiales

They can crawl out of the water on wet rock surfaces to climb up steep waterfalls during upstream migration.

Larvae develop in saltwater before juveniles migrate back to freshwater rivers to mature.

They rapidly flex their muscular abdomen to swim backward at high speeds when threatened.

Medidas y detalles

Longitud: 10-18 cm
Peso: 0.05-0.15 kg
Esperanza de vida: 2-4 años
Tamaño de la puesta: 5000-20000
Incubación: 15-24 días
Distancia de migración: 15 km

Dieta y alimentación

A generalist feeder that consumes a mixture of detritus, aquatic insects, algae, and small invertebrates found on stream beds.

Diferencias por edad: Larvae feed primarily on marine plankton, whereas adults transition to scavenging and opportunistic predation in freshwater habitats.

Alimentos principales

Algae
Aquatic insects
Decaying leaf litter
Small fish
Snail larvae

Método de búsqueda

Foraging

Conexiones ecológicas

eaten by

Giant Mottled Eel

Anguilla marmorata

Preyed upon by large eels inhabiting the same freshwater streams.

hunts

Red-rimmed Melania

Melanoides tuberculata

Feeds opportunistically on small freshwater snails along the riverbed.

competitor

Atyid Shrimp

Atyopsis spinipes

Competes for shelter and food sources in riverine rock crevices.

Rasgos

Aún no hay insignias de rasgos asignadas a este objeto.

También conocido como

Todavía no hay alias listados.

Colecciones

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Seguridad

Peligro

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Todavía no hay notas especiales de seguridad.

Preguntas frecuentes

¿Cómo identificar a Tahitian Prawn?

La forma más fácil de identificar a Tahitian Prawn es usar la aplicación de identificación de naturaleza Snappit.

¿Cuál es el longitud de Tahitian Prawn?

10-18 cm

¿Cuál es el peso de Tahitian Prawn?

0.05-0.15 kg

¿Cuál es el esperanza de vida de Tahitian Prawn?

2-4 años

¿Qué come Tahitian Prawn?

A generalist feeder that consumes a mixture of detritus, aquatic insects, algae, and small invertebrates found on stream beds.

¿Dónde se encuentra normalmente Tahitian Prawn?

Typically found in clear, fast-flowing freshwater streams and rivers with rocky substrates and overhanging vegetation throughout the Indo-Pacific islands.

¿Cómo caza Tahitian Prawn?

Foraging

¿Cuál es el tamaño de la puesta de Tahitian Prawn?

5000-20000