Mantis shrimp mating

[Gonodactylus]

I was photographing a new species of stomatopod in the genus Haptosquilla and was lucky enough to catch a small male mating with a female. The first image is of the female in her cavity sniffing the water a couple of seconds after I added the male. A few minutes later he approached and mated with the female - then beat a hasty retreat given that he was much smaller.

It seems characteristic of this entire genus that they mate at the entrance of the female's cavity.

Roy

 

[Gonodactylus]

second image of mating

second image of mating

copulation

 

[lilswanwillow]

I'm mad at you
those shrimp are too pretty for your experiments
you MUSt send them out to me!!!

don't worry, i'm just kidding...
but they ARE pretty, and I do want one

 

[XxAngelzDustxX]

:eek1: Mantis Pornography!

Just kidding.... Kool pix, thanx for sharing

 

[supernip]

Have you ever thought about breeding and selling mantis shrimps doc? We would love that. It would be a great way to raise funds and awareness, not to mention a great resource for people like us who aren't fortunate enough to have such gorgeous specimens as yourself. I'm sure you've heard this question over and over but I just had to ask...

 

[Gonodactylus]

I wish is could rear them. Unfortunately, their long planktonic stage and cannibalisitc behavior make rearing them very difficult. Only a few species have ever been reared successfully from egg to juvenile. In fact, for many stomatopods, we cannot match the larval stages to the adult. With modern molecular techniques this is changing, but not that quickly.

Roy

 

[dc]

Which is only a good thing for people who have them in their main tank. Awesome pictures as always.

 

[Wee Man]

um that turns me on heheheh

man those r some cool mantis'