General Description

Eye with subglobular cornea. Rostral plate broadly quadrate with apical spine. Antennal protopod with 2 mesial and 1 ventral papilla. Last segment (dactylus) of raptorial claw with 8-11 teeth. Pereopods 1-2 basal segment with inner and outer spine; pereopod 3 with outer spine only. Abdominal somite 6 with 2 ventrolateral spines anterior to uropod articulation. Tailfan (telson) with low median prominence terminating in acute spine; lateral proximal margin without distinct semicircular lobe; intermediate denticles elongate, triangular. Up to 4.5 cm.

Biology

Slender Mantis Shrimps seldom leave their burrows and are ambush predators that feed on passing soft bodied prey such as small fish, cephalopods and shrimps. Consequently they are less frequently encountered than other species which actively forage. The common name stomatopod is sometimes used, after the Order Stomatopoda to which they belong.

Habitat

Shallow, soft substrates, to 110 m depth.

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

Southern temperate oceans, including southern Australia.

Species Group

Prawns, shrimps, lobsters › Mantis shrimps

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

4.5 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Species Code

MoV 1619

Conservation Status

• DSE Advisory List : Not listed
• EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
• IUCN Red List : Not listed