how can i tell if a n wennerae...
- Thread starter tirtguyll
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H2OLUVSME
Premium Member
the best way to id is capture location and meral (sp?) spots which i think are located on the tail of the mantis. this is just a guess because im very new to mantis keeping. i am actually awaiting delivery of a N. wennerae, which will be my very first. (stressing new)
hope this helps a little, just wanted to say some thing
, give you a little free bump.
LT
hope this helps a little, just wanted to say some thing
, give you a little free bump.LT
Gonodactylus
Premium Member
Wrong end! The meral spots are on the top inside of the raptorial appendages (striking appendages). They are white in N. wennerae, but then so are they in about half of the species of gonodactylid.
Location is useful to know, but even if you knew that the animal came from Tampa Bay and was a Neogonodactylus, it could still be one of 4 species. The fact is that unless someone very experienced in stomatopod taxonomy has the specimen in hand, any identification of a species such as N. wennerae is just a guess. There are species such as G. smithii, N. curacaoensis, and G. ternatensis that are easy to tell from color and gross morphology, but there are many others that it takes me along time staring under a microscope to identify.
In the end, unless you are trying to breed them, it probably doesn't matter what the species is as long as you know the genus and the general requirements of the animal. I would suggest not obsessing over the species name - just call it George or Samantha.
Roy
Location is useful to know, but even if you knew that the animal came from Tampa Bay and was a Neogonodactylus, it could still be one of 4 species. The fact is that unless someone very experienced in stomatopod taxonomy has the specimen in hand, any identification of a species such as N. wennerae is just a guess. There are species such as G. smithii, N. curacaoensis, and G. ternatensis that are easy to tell from color and gross morphology, but there are many others that it takes me along time staring under a microscope to identify.
In the end, unless you are trying to breed them, it probably doesn't matter what the species is as long as you know the genus and the general requirements of the animal. I would suggest not obsessing over the species name - just call it George or Samantha.
Roy
H2OLUVSME
Premium Member
thanks Dr Roy. thats why i stated it was just a guess, and why im here reading.......to learn. actually im glad i spelled meral right :lol:
if i get a mantis resembling N. Wannerae, from Tampa Bay, am i going to be able to keep it in a 10 gallon? more specifically will it stay small?
:lol: i think ill go with maurice or winnifred, but thanks for the reccomendations :lol::spin1: :spin3: :lolspin: :lol:
thanks again.
LT
Gonodactylus
Premium Member
Maximum size for N. wennerae (or any Neogonodactylus from the Western Hemisphere) is around 7-8 cm. Life span is about 6 years tops, so if you get a large adult of around 6 cm, it should live another couple years.
Roy
Roy
