A highly aggressive predator, this species delivers a forceful strike, often likened to a karate chop, that stuns prey before it can escape. It burrows into sand and mud, where it is difficult to trap and causes considerable damage to its surroundings. When populations grow large, it outcompetes native crab and shrimp species, leaving them with neither the space nor the food they need to survive.
Confirmed sightings place this species across Northland, Auckland, and the Bay of Plenty. Known locations include Hokianga Harbour, Mangonui Harbour, Whangaroa Harbour, Bay of Islands, Whangarei Harbour, Kaipara Harbour, Tauranga Harbour, Waitemata Harbour, Whitianga, Raglan Harbour, and Ohiwa Harbour. If you encounter this species anywhere outside these areas, please report it.
This location information reflects the best available knowledge at the time of publishing. For a full list of marine pest locations, refer to the Marine Biosecurity Porthole.
