Geographic distribution of mantis?

[Agu]

I recently picked up a mantis shrimp fromTampa Bay Saltwater. I've tried identifying it but it's not cooperating . I assume it's a gulf of Mexico species based on the supplier. However checking the sources I find no geographical parameters for particular species. With fish and corals the area of collection is limited, is this not the case with mantis shrimp ?

FWIW I've made a preliminary ID based on it's all white meral spots as Gonodactylis wennerae.
Agu

 

[Gonodactylus]

Almost all Neogonodactylus coming out of Tampa are N. wennerae. I occasionally find the dwarf species, N. torus and also N. curacaoensis. At least one of the suppliers of Live Rock from Tampa also farms rock off Key Largo. N. curacaoensis is more common from that area, but N. wennerae is still the most abundant. Suppliers will also occasionaly add stomatopods that were collected more shallowly. When this happens, many of the Neogonodactylus are N. oerstedii.

Originally, all Neogonodactylus from the Caribbean with two prominant telson teeth were called N. bredini. The range was from Bermuda and the Carolinas to Texas, Panama, Curacao, and Trinidad and up the windward Islands. If I remember correctly, the type specimens were described from the Grenidines. A few years ago, a deep water version of N. bredini was described from the Carolinas and Georgia. It was also found in the Gulf of Mexico. This is N. wennerae.

Recently, a colleague and I have been trying to sort this group out using molecular genetic techniques. Morphological and habitat differences are a mess. We should have the definitive answer in a few months, but for now, members of this complex from west Florida should be called N. wennerae.

Roy

 

[Agu]

Thank's Roy !!

Agu