| Arcitalitrus sylvaticus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Amphipoda |
| Family: | Talitridae |
| Genus: | Arcitalitrus |
| Species: | A. sylvaticus |
| Binomial name | |
| Arcitalitrus sylvaticus (Haswell, 1879) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Arcitalitrus sylvaticus, known generally as the lawn shrimp, lawn prawn or landhopper, is a species of beach hopper in the family Talitridae. It was first described in 1879 by William Aitcheson Haswell as Talitrus sylvaticus. [1] [2]
It is found in Australia and nearby areas of the Pacific but has been introduced to other places, like California, New Zealand, North Carolina and Florida. [3] [4] [5] The first recorded instance in California was in 1967. [5]
They die in dry conditions and drown if it is too wet. In California, especially, they are a sign of overwatering, as they will leave their homes to avoid drowning. [5] Their main diet is decaying leaves and their density in the habitat is greater than other soil arthropods, therefore, they are significant primary decomposers of leaf litter in their habitat. [6]
