The Balmain Bug, also known as the Eastern Rock Lobster Slipper Lobster, is a uniquely Australian crustacean found along the country's eastern coastline. Unlike true lobsters, it has a flattened body and wide, shovel-like antennae that help it navigate rocky reefs. It is a nocturnal species, spending daylight hours hidden in crevices before emerging to feed. Balmain Bugs are slow-growing and long-lived, making them vulnerable to overfishing. Our exhibit highlights their unusual anatomy and secretive lifestyle. Visitors gain a rare look at one of Australia's most distinctive reef-dwelling crustaceans.