I've worked on Lysiosquillina maculata for years. This is one of the most common large intertidal spearers in the Indo-Pacific. Populations have been recored from East Africa to Hawaii, Queensland to Tahiti. They occur in shallow sandy habitats, can reach a maximum size of 40 cm and live for at least 20 years. They are monogamous and sexually dimorphic with the female laying and brooding eggs, the male hunting for fish. This species if fished and eaten in many places. In French Polynesia, they are called Varo and can bring up to $40 or more in the market for a really big one. Unfortunately, they have been largely fished out of Tahitii and Moorea, but are still abundant in the outer islands. A large male can easily handle a 15 cm mullet.
I have kept several in captivity and they survive typically for 2-5 years. However, deformed and/or lost raptorial appendages are a problem. I suspect this is diet related. The animals seem to have an obligatory molt every 3-4 months and if they don't get enough to eat, they actually shrink. We have measured this in the field as well as in the lab.
There are several species of Lysiosquillina and Lysiosquilla. L. m. is the largest and most dramatically colored, but all have the same general striped color pattern. You can usually tell L. m. by the spotted eyes. Most other species do not have this.
Roy
