It was erected in 1983 by Fenner A. Chace, Jr. for two species formerly treated in the genus Atya.

[1] It differs from Atya by various characters, including the form of the telson (which is longest at the corners in Atyopsis, but not in Atya) and the presence of a "massive spur" on the male third pereiopod.

[1] The two species differ in the number of teeth on the underside of the rostrum, A. spinipes having 2–6, while A. moluccensis has 7–16.

This shrimp feeds using its feather like claspers to filter particles from the water.

During this process the shrimp is very vulnerable to predation so ample hiding spaces should be provided e.g. small cave structures, dense foliage, etc.