Correct Mantis Id

Pernelf · #1 12/30/2003, 08:45 PM

I recently got a mantis from a friend and have been trying to identify it, I was wondering if I got it right or not, I think it's a Haptosquilla trispinosa but am not sure. I'm not sure where the live rock that my friend got came from though. Any help is appreciated. TIA

Gonodactylus · #2 01/01/2004, 04:14 AM

Definitely not Haptosquilla. More likely a Neogonodactylus oerstedii from Florida.

Roy

Gonodactylus · #3 01/01/2004, 07:07 PM

I didn't have much time when I responded earlier tentatively IDing this as N. oerstedii. This animal looks like it is from the Caribbean (Neogonodactylus) and the teeth on the telson are in two pairs which suggests N. oerstedii. The final trait that would make the id certain is the color of the meral spot on the inside of the raptorial appendage. N. oerstedii has a colored spot surrounded by white. The color of the spot ranges from grey to deep purple. Other possible species would have an all white spot.

Roy

Pernelf · #4 01/02/2004, 11:55 AM

Thank you very much Roy, currently the mantis is housed in my sump with a shallow sand bed and living in a large turbo snail shell. It's so cute how he blocks up the entrance with gravel. Now that I have an ID I can research better housing requirements. Thanks again.

Gonodactylus · #5 01/02/2004, 04:41 PM

The shell is ideal for this species. They often live in modified shells in the field. Try giving him a few mixed pieces of coral rubble fragments and shell piece (marble sized) that he can used to make more permanent modifications to the shell. He needs rough, irregular pieces that can be worked into place.