New mantis I need an ID?
- Thread starter Alex
- Start date
Gonodactylus
Premium Member
Alex,
It is a gonodactylid, but for a positive ID I need some more information. First, do you have any idea where it came from. Hawaii, Indo-Pacific, Caribbean?
Second, what color are the meral spots? Don't worry about the white rim and dark spots - just the center - white, yellow, red, blue, purple, etc.
Third, can you get a shot of the telson and uropods (tail) The dentition of the telson is one of the best traits to use to identify stomatopods.
I won't venture a guess as to identity until we get some more information. There are half a dozen species that fit this general color pattern.
Roy
It is a gonodactylid, but for a positive ID I need some more information. First, do you have any idea where it came from. Hawaii, Indo-Pacific, Caribbean?
Second, what color are the meral spots? Don't worry about the white rim and dark spots - just the center - white, yellow, red, blue, purple, etc.
Third, can you get a shot of the telson and uropods (tail) The dentition of the telson is one of the best traits to use to identify stomatopods.
I won't venture a guess as to identity until we get some more information. There are half a dozen species that fit this general color pattern.
Roy
Gonodactylus
Premium Member
Alex,
As I suspected, this animal is in the genus Gonodactylaceus, a group of Indo-Pacific gonodactylids that are common reef-flat densions. My guess is that this animal is a G. mutatus, a species common in Australia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. We think that it was also introduced into Hawaii in the 1950's where it is now the most common reef flat stomatopod. Most typically you find this species in coral rubble living from the low intertidal to a depth of a couple of meters. Males tend to be dark mottled green while females are lighter, sometimes even orange. Both sexes have yellow meral spots. Maximum size is around 6cm. They probably live 5 or 6 years.
Roy
As I suspected, this animal is in the genus Gonodactylaceus, a group of Indo-Pacific gonodactylids that are common reef-flat densions. My guess is that this animal is a G. mutatus, a species common in Australia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. We think that it was also introduced into Hawaii in the 1950's where it is now the most common reef flat stomatopod. Most typically you find this species in coral rubble living from the low intertidal to a depth of a couple of meters. Males tend to be dark mottled green while females are lighter, sometimes even orange. Both sexes have yellow meral spots. Maximum size is around 6cm. They probably live 5 or 6 years.
Roy
