New mantis ID?

[Neo-Fight]

Just picked this guy up a few days ago. He is about an inch long...

 

[Neo-Fight]

Ok, so I did a bit of research, and it looks like an N Curacaensis? I know I spelled that wrong, but does any one want to confirm or deny?

 

[Gonodactylus]

It is indeed Neogonodactylus curacaoensis. This species is found throughout the Caribbean and generally occurs in LR and coral. It seems to prefer to be up off the sand. When we videotaped them in the field, they usually had more than one cavity and moved frequently. They are always found subtidally, usually below 10 m, which means that they do not occur in bright environments. Maximum size is only about 6-7 cm.

Roy

 

[Neo-Fight]

It is indeed Neogonodactylus curacaoensis. This species is found throughout the Caribbean and generally occurs in LR and coral. It seems to prefer to be up off the sand. When we videotaped them in the field, they usually had more than one cavity and moved frequently. They are always found subtidally, usually below 10 m, which means that they do not occur in bright environments. Maximum size is only about 6-7 cm.

Roy

Thanks, Doc.
One more question on this species. You are quoted here:
http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/pics/caldwell_n_curacaoensis.htm
as stating that the N. curacaoensis is one of the more behaviorally interesting stomatopods around.
What makes them so interesting?

 

[Gonodactylus]

Primarily what made it interesting to me was that it was difficult to catch and/or study. The fact that they live in cavities at depth on walls and up off of the substrate, often in live coral, made them difficult to catch or video tape. I guess I just like a challenge.

Also, they are very color polymorphic and make use of unique polarized visual signals.

On the down side, they seem to be a bit delicate and hard to keep. This is often true of live coral species or species that live at depth.
Roy