Busquilla - an unusual stomatopod

[Gonodactylus]

We recently acquired this unusual spearer, Busquilla plantei. They are found throughout the Indo-Pacific, usually living below 15 m in soft sediments. What makes this animal unusual is that it is heavily polarized (orange patch visible because I photographed it using a polarizing filter) and it is active during the day. This individual is a 73 mm male from Banda Ache.

Roy

 

[leaffish75]

nice!

 

[rwhhunt]

Roy: Do you keep any of these exotic species as personal pets, or are they all kept at the university?

 

[Gonodactylus]

They are research animals. We are looking at the polarized displays of this species, how they are produced and what they signal A colleague is analyzing the eyes to determine what spectra they see and what type of polarizing vision they have. Generally, we try to use the animals as quickly as possible before their physiology changes due to the artificial conditions in the lab.

Roy

 

[Uriel]

Dr. Roy, you mentioned using the animals before their conditions changed...

I understand that some will die etc, but what do you do with any animals that you have gleaned everything possible from, yet are still alive?

If there is a mantis in need of adoption over in Berkeley at some point, I now have 400 gallons of space...well, about 200 earmarked for mantis in various 12,25,30 and 40 gallon sizes. I have recently recieved a windfall of free/cheap tanks.

Just a thought (a wishful one, most likely...but still).


*********************************************

I know that you study the little monsters, but what are your thoughts on them as 'pets'? You have seen (indeed, been the documentation) of their suprisingly delightful intelligence, after all. Do you think that they adapt well to life in aquariums? Mine all seem very content, and they build,play and eagerly await whatever I have brought home in the 'little magic bags' .


Last night it was fiddler crabs,red-legged crabs and ghost shrimp

They actually get visibly excited when they see air-filled bags full of delicious snails/crabs/ghost shrimp. The Scyllarus swms over to the tank wall and peers in (since I like to set the bag where he can see the contents).

-Ron

 

[Gonodactylus]

Ron,

First, I appreciate where you are coming from, but unfortunately stomatopods used in our research, even if the animal does not have to be sacrificed, are nearly always preserved as vouchers.

Roy

 

[Uriel]

Ron,

First, I appreciate where you are coming from, but unfortunately stomatopods used in our research, even if the animal does not have to be sacrificed, are nearly always preserved as vouchers.

Roy

Well, it was worth a try...




-Ron

 

[goblinsharkman]

wow, thats awsome, i guess its a good adaptation, b/c the polarized colors can only be seen by other mantises, so it could potentially help them attract a mate or something without making themselves easy targets.

 

[rwhhunt]

Dr Roy: do you keep any manis's as pets?

 

[Gonodactylus]

Not really. We have some animals that were reared from post larvae that are now several years old and I would certainly think twice about using them in a terminal experiment, but they are research animals.

Roy

 

[Uriel]

...and I would certainly think twice about using them in a terminal experiment, but they are research animals...

Roy

Well, we of the USRF * would welcome any requests for aid, should said mantis ever need relocation...





* Underground(water?)-Stomatopod-Rescue-Federation