What kind of mantis in Guam?

[Fcamdog]

I'll be going to Guam this February and was curious to know what kind of mantis can be found there. Also, where in the ocean are they found? I'll only be snorkling to maybe 10 feet deep max.

[Agilecrux]

ahh my home land.

i imagine you would find mantis's for the phillippines, seeing that its not too far away, plus pacific rim species and maybe indonesian.

i would head to Cocos island at the southern tip. reefs and lagoonal areas.

guam is pretty small so travelling from the north shore to the south shore wont take to long.

Hafa adai

[Gonodactylus]

The species list is long, but there is some good collecting to be had. On the reef flats you will find an abundance of Gonodactylus platysoma, Gonodactylus smithii (this may be a similar undescribed species), Gonodactylellus incipiens, Pseudosquillia ciliata, Haptosquilla glytocercus, Chorisquilla gyrosa, and a few other assorted Gonodactylellus.

Deeper, you will find Odontodactlylus scyllarus, Echinosquilla, Gonodactylellus affinis and Chorisquilla excavata.

On the sand flats, Lysiosquillina maculata, Acanthosquilla, and Alima are common. Pullosquilla litoralis and P. thomassini are ubiquitous, but given their small size, they are hard to spot.

Hope this helps.

Roy