New Mantis! Spearer

[TrappedMetal]

No idea what it is. latin name was "Gonodactylus spp/Squilla" - if its a spearer it cant be a gonodactylus right?
I will take some photos real soon.
Here is a photo of how it came from the shop just until it settles in:

Seems to have a big eye spot on the carapace/neck area..

James
p.s - it's looking to be a Raoulserenea komaii according to roys list of stomatopods. will have to see how the colour is when it's out of the bag.
It also has 2 black spots just after the appendages under his belly, and two more on the underside of his tail "feathers" - excuse my poor taxonomy!

 

[TrappedMetal]

Not very good photos at all, howevr the colouration/patterning might help ID?

Good news it she just took a saltwater molly (as in, was converted to saltwater and fed saltwater foods for a few months before hand), boy are they fast!
Some more photos:

Im not sure if you can tell but the inside of the appendages are white.
James

 

[TrappedMetal]

anyone? Dr. Roy?
I would ideally like to research the specifics of this species of mantis shrimp, however IDing it is very hard for me.

 

[TrappedMetal]

bump..

 

[TrappedMetal]

up we go..

 

[kdblove_99]

yep, will need dr roy or gansta nemo knows alot also

 

[TrappedMetal]

Yeah, i thought so, however ive not seen either of them post recently.

 

[kdblove_99]

maybe try stomatopod.com

 

[TrappedMetal]

tried it.
They reccomended Dr. Roy.
Someone said it looks like Raoulserenea komaii but id like that confirming as i dont see any cream coloured ring around the eyespot.

 

[kdblove_99]

Yep, Looks like the Dr is the answer then.

 

[TrappedMetal]

just thought id post some more photos now its more settled in.

 

[gharner]

that is a beautiful mantis!!! where did you manage to find him?

 

[raman781]

Looks like Pseudosquilla.
How long is he?

 

[TrappedMetal]

about 4 inches - i dont think it is a pseudoquilla because he has definitive eye spots on the back of his shell which are consistant with the Raoulserenea species..
Also, look at the photos, have you ever seen a pseudoquilla with eyes larger than the stalks? i havent.
Anyway, like i say, ive never seen any pseudoquila or any other mantis species with eyespots on the back of the carapace other than raoulserenea species and pseudoquilla ocelata, but the eyes are much too big i think - and that is according to Dr. Roys list of Stomatopods.
Thankyou.
I Got him from TMC believe it or not.
Cheers
James

 

[raman781]

I didn't think my mantis was a Pseudosquillidae.
After sending it out to the doctor I found out that it was.

Looking at your pics reminded me of my mantis, excluding the marks.

 

[TrappedMetal]

hmm.
i see what you mean, although i still think that the eyes are a giveaway - the eyes of mine are literally bigger than the stalks it sits on!

 

[TrappedMetal]

bump for dr. roy who comfirmed it is a raoulserenea.

 

[Gonodactylus]

Species of Raoulserenea can be tricky to sort out and often color is the best tool to use. However, there are are couple of characters that can narrow the identification.

First, look at the rostrum and determine if there is a short anterior medial spine or is the front of the rostrum smooth? If the rostral plate has a short anterior spine, the animal is either R. oxyrhyncha or R. komaii. If not, it is R. ornata, R. heroglyphica, or R. pygmaea.

The size rules out R. p which is under 32 mm.

R. o is usually a fairly solid body color, so that eliminates it.

R.o and R. K are easiest to tell apart by the ring around the carapace spots. If it is while and continuous or nearly so, it is R. k. If the spots have diffuse, pale margins it is O. o.

Also, R. ornata has a solid dark propodus; O. h has a propodus of the raptorial appendage with distinct pale spots.

Roy

 

[Gonodactylus]

I'm pretty sure it is R. hieroglyphica. I have collected several of these spearers on Moorea from live coral and coral rubble at depths to 40 m. They typically feed on live shrimp and small crabs. I would suggest feeding this animal krill, shrimp, etc. with some added supplement to maintain color. They construct burrows/cavities amongst the branches and plates of coral. I have not found one burrowing in sand. This seems to be typical for all five species of Raoulserenea.

Roy

 

[kdblove_99]

Good stuff Dr.