Microrchestia bousfeldi
Vulnerable
Bousfield's Marsh Hopper is a small marine amphipod (a type of crustacean) found in the supra-littoral zone where they shelter under rotted logs and mangrove debris at South West Rocks Creek. It has relatively large eyes (approximately 1/3 of entire head length) in the few individuals collected.
Microrchestia bousfeldi has morphological similarities to Microrchestia macrochela, one of the three other representatives in the genus Microrchestia.
There is little documented information on the life-cycle or biology of Bousfield's Marsh Hopper; however individuals collected in surveys have been approximately 9-10 mm in length.
Bousfield's Marsh Hopper has only been collected from a small isolated location in mangroves at South West Rocks Creek, New South Wales. The species has an extremely limited distribution, and has not been located in other mangrove areas despite active searching.
There is little information on the biology or ecology of Bousfields Marsh Hopper. All species in the Microrchestia genus are restricted to mangrove swamps and salt marshes in eastern Australia, where they shelter under rotting logs and mangrove debris in the supra-littoral zone. Bousfields Marsh Hopper is considered to be a narrow-range endemic species, characterised by a limited geographic range and restricted habitat.