This large shrimp is pale pink in colour. Males have larger claws than females, very territorial.

Common in the mid and low tide zone and shallow subtidal of protected shores with sandy substrate. They have elaborate burrows reaching depths of 60 cm. The burrows can be metres in diameter and have turning chambers, many galleries and both an inhalent tunnel (has a crater at the entrance) and an exhalent tunnel (volcano shaped mound at entrance). They are important to the health of the mudflat as they turnover the mud releasing nutrients back into the system (called Bioturbation).

Food (plankton) is selected from a current created by the rear 3 limbs (pleopods). Particles are sorted by the forelimbs (peraeopods) and finally by hairs on the mouthparts.

Was Callianassa Filholi. Recent DNA research suggests they are related to the group of crustaceans which includes the Hermit Crabs (Anomurans).

Gary C. B. Poore (2010). "Biffarius filholi (A. Milne-Edwards, 1878)". World Register of Marine Species. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=477616. Retrieved October 20th 2010.