Free museum entry for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand

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.

  • Clever Crustaceans

    Discover crustaceans’ smart survival tricks in a mini exhibition with real specimens and hands-on interactives. Created in collaboration with NIWA Taihoro Nukurangi.

    Closed

    22 May – 21 Aug 2023

    Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

  • Layout view of the Clever Crustaceans activity book

    Clever Crustaceans activity book

    Primary

    Crustaceans come in all shapes and sizes – from huge king crabs to tiny sand hoppers! Get to know them through movement, storytelling, puzzles, and more!

    Activity book

  • rick-webber.jpg

    Meet the carcinologists: Rick Webber

    Carcinologists are the people who study the world of crustacea. In this series, they talk about the captivating creatures they love – creatures that as it turns out live all around us…

  • A woman's head and hand holding a small lobster up to the camera. The lobster is in focus and she is blurry.

    Meet the carcinologists: Kareen Schnabel

    Carcinologists are the people who study the world of crustacea. In this series, they talk about the captivating creatures they love – creatures that as it turns out live all around us…

  • A woman standing on a step ladder at the end of a row of shelves with fish specimens in jars on the shelves.

    Meet the carcinologists: Rachael Peart

    Carcinologists are the people who study the world of crustacea. In this series, they talk about the captivating creatures they love – creatures that as it turns out live all around us…

  • barnacles with fringes fanning out

    Crustaceans: The Swiss Army knife of life

    Crustaceans are like the Swiss Army knife of life, revealing an appendage for any occasion. Multifunctionality is the crustacean M.O., with their limbs cleverly turning to just about any task.

  • A large crab on a black background.

    Browse crustaceans in our collection

    Take a look at some of our collection of Crustacea including specimens deposited in the 19th century as well as those collected much more recently.

  • A close up of a crab on a beach.

    Paddling among paddle crabs

    The paddle crab (Ovalipes catharus) of New Zealand. It lives just under water at sandy beaches and burrows leaving only its eyes visible, sitting in wait for prey (and swimmers’ toes!). Large males can reach 150 mm across the carapace. Photographer: WR Webber © WR Webber

  • Two men are crouched on coastal rocks with jars of specimens in front of them.

    Hoards but not seen – the Tanaidacea

    Tanaids are little marine crustaceans, mostly 2–5 millimetres long fully grown, that play a far more important role in our seas than you might imagine.

  • A black and white photo of a man with black rimmed glasses siting at a desk surrounded by a lot of papers.

    John Yaldwyn and the frog crab

    Former museum director John Yaldwyn specialised in crustaceans, but he also had a keen interest in extinct New Zealand birds, archaeology, and history.

  • A closeup of an very small crustacean with a black background. It looks a bit like a walrus with two tusks.

    Tanaid crustacean

    New Zealand has 80-plus tanaid species – and counting. This species has been known for about 20 years, but only now is it getting specialist attention. It is only recorded from New Zealand, in shallow waters around the northeastern North Island.