Ar.40 Gonodactylus sp (Mantis shrimp)

 

Ar.40                                              Gonodactylus sp (Mantis shrimp)

Phylum   : Arthropoda

Class       : Malacostraca

Order      : Stomatopoda

Family    : Gonodactylidae

Genus     : Gonodactylus

 

Description: Gonodactylus is a genus of mantis shrimp. The species typically grows to a maximum length of 105 millimetres and is sexually dimorphic. Males range in color from brown to a dark green, and females from a grey/green to white. The species is widely distributed in the western Indo-Pacific. It occurs in shallow water in the upper intertidal zone around boulders and coral heads where prey is available. G. chiragra are burrowers, but usually do not construct their own shelters. Instead, they inhibit rocky cavities that are either natural or created by other animals such as mollusks. However, they are equipped to erode the material of the burrow so that it perfectly fits their body shape. Burrows serve many purposes, including protection, lookouts for finding prey, consuming prey, mating, and keeping eggs safe. G. chiragra are active during the day and often close off the entrance to their shelter at night using bits of sand and rocks.

 

IUCN Status: Not evaluated