Free Mantis in Melbourne Australia

[Kazza24]

I have a free mantis up for grabs if any one wants.
I live in Melbourne,Australia.
I caught him in with the live rock.
If you want a pic I can take one. It's a smasher and it's quite colourful oranges and blues I am unsure of the name.

 

[JmLee]

i love melbourne australia, my ex fiance was from Geelong. Wish i could move to melbourne.

 

[gunslingerone9]

you think that thing could make a trip to the u.s. what am i kidding there is noway unless you can think of something

 

[gunslingerone9]

how big is he

 

[Kazza24]

He is roughly 2 inches to 2 and a half inches long.
I will try and get a pic soon

 

[mysis]

Have you tried RTAW, (reefing the australian way forum)

i know you could easily ofload it there to a local.


http://www.masa.asn.au

^ is the site

 

[Kazza24]

Here is the mantis

Here is the mantis

The picture doesn't do him much justice as he is really quite colourful with orange and Blue.Let me know if anyone in Melbourne would like him

 

[DensityMan]

Looks like Gonodactylaceus ternatensis or the odd color morph of Gonodactylus smithii from the outward carapace coloration. Though clearer pics of the raptorial appendages showing the meral spots would be necessary to say for sure (and I could be off; there might be other mantis that I am unfamiliar with that also exhibit the colors shown in your pic).

If the orange and blue you mention are seen in a head-on view and the orange can be seen as two large spots (one on each raptorial appendage) then it is more than likely a G. ternatensis.

Nice find!