Crustaceans of Aotearoa New Zealand and the South Pacific

Crustacea includes lobsters, crabs, shrimps, prawns, hoppers, wood lice, water fleas, and several other groups. Most crustaceans live in the sea but some are found in freshwater or on land. The one thing they all need to survive is water, or at least a moist habitat.

There are over 30,000 lots of Crustacea in Te Papa’s collection – more than 100,000 specimens and includes about 240 primary types. The largest crustacean collections in the country are held by Te Papa and NIWA Taihoro Nukurangi.