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Project Noah Nature School
Lysiosquillina lisa
Also known as Spearing Mantis Shrimp, Spearer Mantis Shrimp and Giant Mantis Shrimp. They feed on fish, squid and invertebrates, and grow to a length of about 25cm.
This large mantis shrimp is found in a very large hole in the sand and rubble near to reefs, at depths of 8 to 35m. Widespread in the Indo-West Pacific region. It is common to find red-claw cuapetes shrimp (Cuapetes tenuipes) living commensally with the mantis shrimp, as can be seen in these photos -- take a look at the center bottom part of the first picture, there is a much smaller and nearly transparent shrimp just outside the hole.
This particular mantis shrimp was spotted at a depth of about 40 feet. It came out to check me out and didn't seem to be afraid of my camera -- I guess that's because I tried to minimize my movements and my bubbles.
Spotted on Dec 11, 2011
Submitted on Jan 27, 2012
1 Comment
Nice!