mantis ID

[ozadars]

Hi there,
I wonder what kind of a mantis this is;

Are there any mantis shrimps in Mediterranean? If so this may be one of those.

 

[invertaman]

weird, the body color is like a pistol but body structure is like a mantis, weird

 

[ozadars]

I know there are brown mantis shrimps. In my opinion this is either a Squilla mantis, Oratosquilla massavensis or Rissoides desmaresti but I cant be sure about which one is it.

 

[goblinsharkman]

no, its not a squilla, it has smashers, i dont know how to identify them, so Dr. Roy?

 

[Gonodactylus]

I can't give you an ID to species without having it in hand, but it is definitely in the family Gonodactylidae. If you are sure it is from the Mediterranean, that narrows it down. I have only seen a few species from there, but I will see what I can dig up.

Roy

 

[pisces77]

possibly female G. glabrous?

 

[Gonodactylus]

Nope, it is not in the genus Gonodactylaceus or Gonodactylus. Until recently, there were no gonodactylids in the Mediterranean. There have been reports of G. chiragra and possibly G. falcatus making it through the Suez Canal, but the individual in the picture is either a Gonodactylellus or Gonodactylopsis. There are found in the Red Sea, so if the animal is from this region, my guess is that it came from the Red Sea or Western Indian Ocean and not the Mediterranean.

Roy

 

[ozadars]

Well, this mantis was in a Turkish reefer's tank. It is an hitchiker.
I cant be %100 sure if this mantis is from Turkish Seas or not but most probably it is. If its from Turkish Seas, it should be from Northern Aegean Sea so chances of making it through the Suez Canal is not so much. Northern Aegean Sea has cold water (however the mantis lives in a tropical reef tank right now). This mantis might have also come with the corals.

 

[Gonodactylus]

I'm almost certain that it belongs to the genus Gonodactylellus and is similar to a group of species commonly referred to as the hendersoni complex. To my knowledge, no species from this complex have ever been reported from the Mediterranean Sea or eastern Atlantic, but they are common in the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean and are frequent hitchhikers in coral and live rock.

Roy

 

[ozadars]

Thanks. How big do these species get? I think this guy in the picture is relatively small and my friend may ship him to me. I have an empty few gallon tank and may keep him in it. Also are they nocturnal?

 

[Gonodactylus]

Most of these species are small - 2 inches max..

They are diurnal to crepuscular. Peak activity is usually just after sunrise and just before sunset.

Roy

 

[ozadars]

2" max? Then I guess he will be a good inhibitant for my few gallon tank. Thanks, If I can get him I will post pictures.