Stomatopods and use by Humans

[Gonodactylus]

I was asked today by a high school student writing a report what importance stomatopods had to humans. I though some of you might be interested in my answer. I've written on this before, but for those of you new to the beast:


Their primary impact is as food. In Japan, Shako is a favored sushi. In the Mediterranean, Squilla mantis is eaten - particularly in the Adriatic. Throughout the Indo-Pacific, Lysiosquillina maculata is considered a good meal and is often fished. For example, in Tonga, when gaining an audience with the King, it was customary to bring a basket of L. maculata. In Thailand, female squillids with ripe ovaries full of fat are often roasted on skewers. In a few areas such as Tahiti, Lysiosquillina are so popular that they have been fished to local extinction.

Some stomatopods, particularly large squillids, are major predators on shrimp. There was one study that I remember that estimated that 5-7% of the gross shrimp production was taken by stomatopods. There was also another study in Australia showing that smashing gonodactylids had a significant impact on newly recruited gastropods such as Trochus.

I suppose that it is also fair to mention their popularity - and lack of popularity in some circles - of aquarists.

Finally, stomatopod dactyls were occasionally used as ornaments and weapons. Micronesians made barbed harpoons set with Lysiosquillina dactyls and I have seen boomerangs that had the edges lined with stomatopod dactyls and shark teeth.

Roy

[nano mania]

Don't forget how amazing they are.

The most advanced vision in the animal kingdom
The fastest strike in the animal kingdom.

[gholland]

The food aspect seems obvious, but I find the other uses such as weapons and ornamentation very fascinating. How long is a "large" Lysiosquillina dactyl? And the barbs on it?

I also think the cultural practice of bringing a basket to gain audience with the king is interesting... I should implement that custom the next time my students want an audience with me!

As always, thanks for the education Dr. Roy!

[justinl]

cool, I would wear a necklace of my molted O. scyllarus rapts... hmmm.

nano mania, unfortunately stomatopoda lost the title of fastest feeding strike to some stupid trap jaw ant... cool in their own rights, but they still dont come close to comparing with a mantis shrimp!