Mantis Shrimp (Squilla empusa) |
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| Description Mantis shrimps are represented by a few common species in our shallow southeastern waters. All conform to the same body plan. The body is long, relatively narrow, and flattened from top to bottom. The head is unlike any other crustacean because it is jointed. The front part, bearing the eyes and antennules, moves independently. The carapace covers only the rear part of the head and the first three segments of the thorax. The first antennae are triramous with three whip-like branches. The second antennae are biramous with one whiplike branch and one that is flat and leaf-like. The eyes are large and stalked. The first five pairs of thoracic appendages are pincers and the second is spectacularly developed to form two large raptorial claws. These are so sharp that they can cut other shrimps in half. They are folded beneath the body like those of a praying mantis and are extended rapidly to capture prey. The last three pairs of thoracic appendages are slender walking legs. The first five pairs of abdominal appendages are peopods with gills. The last pair is two large, flat, biramous uropods. The two uropods and the flat telson make up a tail fan. The telson is often spiny. These are fierce predators that use their claws to capture prey. The motion of the claws is one of the fasted recorded animal movements. Some mantis shrimps lurk at the entrance to their burrows and wait for prey; others creep up on their prey and strike them with an uppercut slash. [Ref. Ruppert and Fox; Kaplan] The most commonly seen mantis shrimp in our waters is Squilla empusa. It reaches a length of 6-8" and is usually found in U-shaped burrows in soft mud. It is frequently seen swimming along the surface of the Intracoastal Waterway, especially at night under dock lights. They are sinuous swimmers, capable of doubling back upon their own body length. They are called "thumbcrackers" locally because they are capable of delivering a serious and bloody wound with their raptorial claws. Fishermen make the local news from time to time when they hook or dip up these animals and are unaware of their potential for damage until it is too late. |
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| Complete
classification tree Family = Squillidae Superfamily = Squilloidea Suborder = Unipeltata Order = Stomatopoda Superorder = Hoplocarida Class = Malacostraca Subphylum = Crustacea Phylum = Arthropoda |
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| Recognition
characteristics - The telson has a medial longitudinal carina on the dorsal surface. - The cornea of the eye is bi-lobed. - The movable finger of the raptorial claw has six teeth. |
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| Local
habitat It digs burrows in the mud or sand of the Intracoastal Waterway, as well as offshore. Burrows have been observed by local divers to depths of 80 feet offshore. |
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| Collection
method Trawl. Shovel. Dip net when found swimming. |
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| Links
and references Ruppert, Edward and Fox, Richard. Seashore Animals of the Southeast. University of South Carolina Press, 1988. Kaplan, Eugene H. A Field Guide to Southeastern and Caribbean Seashores. The Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 1988. http://www.baylink.org/seacamp/29.html http://www.chesapeakebay.net/info/mantis_shrimp.cfm http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/ http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/historic/nmfs/figb0546.htm http://web.fccj.org/~dbyres/mantis/squilla.htm http://web.fccj.org/~dbyres/mantis/squilla2.htm http://directory.google.com/Top/Science/Biology/Flora_and_ http://www.njstriper.com/AskFish.asp?Action=View&ID=34 |
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