ID needed Male or Female Mantis Shrimp?

[ReefGeekster]

anyone can tell me if mine is a male or female? That way I can name it. THANKS!

http://www.reefcentral.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=13027&thumb=1

 

[Gonodactylus]

Assuming it is over 12 cm in total length, and without seeing the genitalia, I would say it is a female.

Roy

 

[ReefGeekster]

It's at least 4" ; is there a illustrated anatomy of the Odontodactylus scyllarus somewhere on the web showing the difference even if I can see the genitalia I wouldn't know what to look for. Thanks Dr. Roy for all you help here on RC :thumbsup:

 

[Gonodactylus]

In the thread "sex pictures" I've posted images of the gonopods of males and gonopores of females. They look pretty much the same in all stomatopods. Without a good close-up look at the ventral surface of a female, it is difficult to see the gonopores. They are a pair of openings on the mid-line between the first pair of walking legs. It is easy, however , to see the gonopods of males. They are a pair of tubes that attach to the inside base of the last pair of walking legs. They are about 1/3 the length of the leg and are pretty hard to miss.

Roy