There are approximately 25 families of stomatopods, 120 genera and over 500 species. While it is possible to give a rough estimated maximum total length for most species, remember that all of these species have indeterminate growth (they keep growing throughout their life) and most start out as postlarvae 7 to 25% maximum adult size. About the only species that I know that are typically provided in a normal adult size range are Odontodactylus scyllarus and Gonodactylus chiragra and that is because they are collected specifically for the aquarium trade. (Also, it is easier to find large individuals than small ones given the collection methods used.) Even if you are given size estimates, they are usually wrong. I measure stomatopods from the tip of the telson to the eyes. They held down flat, stretched out as straight as possible, so the determination of total length is even greater than it would be if you put a ruler up against the side of an aquarium with the animal standing on the other side of the glass. It is rare that people do not over-estimate the size of a live stomatopod. A six inch O. s. is large and a 7 inch animal is a monster that you very rarely encounter. Neogonodactylus wennerae are often reported as 3-4 inches. They don't get that big - 2.5 inches is about as big as they get. I've had suppliers tell me that they had 15 inch Lysiosquillina and 12 inch Hemisquilla. When they arrived, they were 3 inches shorter. If someone was off estimating my height as much as people typically are estimating stomatopod length, I would be 8 feet tall.
As for suppliers who know what species they are supplying, aside from Odontodactylus scyllarus and Lysiosquilla sp., you can count them on one hand. Tampa Bay knows that they are selling Neogonodactylus wennerae and Gulf Specimen knows that they have Squilla empusa and occasionally Neogonodactylus oerstedii. A couple of suppliers in the Keys such as Tom's ship Pseudosquilla ciliata. Hawaiian collectors usually know P. cilata, Gonodactylaceus mutatus, and Lysiosquillina.
Roy
