ID on Smasher Mantis

[angelacbishop]

Hi everyone. I've been reading this forum for quite some time but this is my first post. I have had a 12G nano cube set up and waiting for a mantis for a few months now. I was just getting ready to order one from Sealife, Inc. when I came across a LFS that had a couple.

When I bought this guy (girl?) I was told he was a spearer but now that I've been able to look at him up close I can see that he's a smasher. That and the fact that he killed 3 Ilyanassa obsoleta snails within his first 30 minutes in the tank! I think the poor little guy had been deprived of live food for awhile. I checked over Roy's ID list and I've been able to narrow it down to about 11 species but that's the closest I've gotten. Does anyone have any ideas of what he could be? I just want to make sure I'm giving him the best life possible.

He is currently around 3" long. The photos aren't the best but he's a dark green with tiny white flecks and a red line between each body segment. He also has some blue and orange on his "feathers" and legs. Any help would be appreciated because I'd love to research the species so I can give him the proper care.

 

[Gonodactylus]

What color are the meral spots? I have only seen red intersegmental bands on two species, Gonodactylaceus ternatensis (orange spots) and Gonodactylus smithii (purple spots). If this is a different species from those with red bands, I would be very interested in getting a proper ID.

Roy

 

[angelacbishop]

Could you please explain to me what meral spots are? I've looked at some anatomy pictures of mantis shrimp to try and figure that out but didn't see that listed on there. The red bands are very thin if that makes much difference. I wish the photos I took of him in the container would have turned out better because it's going to be much more difficult now that's he's in the tank.

 

[Gonodactylus]

If you go to Roy's List and look at the top image of Gonodactylus smithii, you will see that it is displaying with its raptorial (striking) appendages. On the top inner surfaces of the largest segment is a saddle shaped depression. In G. smithii it has a purple center with a white ring. In many species, the color of the meral spot helps use identify them.

Roy

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthro...acostraca/royslist/species.php?name=g_smithii

 

[angelacbishop]

Excellent, thanks! I will have a look tonight when I get home and let you know. Thank you so much for the help thus far.

 

[angelacbishop]

His meral spots are half lime green and half yellow. There is not a distinct line between the two colors, it's more of a fade.

 

[Gonodactylus]

Well, I'm stumped. The meral spots sound like Gonodactylaceus falcatus, but I have never seen a male with the red intersegmental bands. G. ternatensis in the same genus, does have them, so I guess it is possible.

Roy

 

[angelacbishop]

I was able to get him to come out in the open to eat some shrimp last night and noticed a hint of baby blue along the sides of the meral spots as well. Is that consistant with Gonodactylaceus falcatus? Again, thanks for your help.

He's quite reclusive at this point. I'm hoping he'll be out and about more once he get's used to the tank and recognizes me as the feeder. He has killed almost all the snails so far but the 2 tiny blue legged hermits are still alive.

 

[angelacbishop]

There is a very faint red hint in this photo of a Gonodactylaceus falcatus and this is very similar to how my mantis look. I'm fairly certain this is what he is. Thank you x100 for your time and assistance!

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthro...umalacostraca/royslist/images/g_falcatus6.jpg