Pauline Walsh Jacobson, USA
Info
Neogonodactylus wennerae Manning & Heard, 1997
Neogonodactylus owe their name to their fishing tools that resemble externally those of mantis (mantises).Mantis shrimps are predators in the seabed in tropical waters.
Mantis shrimps usually live as territorial solitary predators. They hide in the bottom of tropical seas between rocks and stones or in complex tunnel systems and lurk for prey at their entrance. Mantis shrimps usually only leave their hiding places to look for food or to move to a new hiding place. They are predominantly nocturnal.
A distinction is made between “smashers” and “spearers”. In "smashers", the end joints of the claw legs are thickened into clubs. The prey is smashed with a lightning-fast swing of the clubs. “Spearers” have clearly visible tips on their claws, which are used to impale their prey.
With the help of its extraordinary eyes, the crab targets its prey precisely, then strikes with lightning speed and, if necessary, shatters its shell. All stomatopods have separate sexes.
Neogonodactyluswennerae is a butterfly and lives in reef and boulder bottoms in the Caribbean. It can be found in cavities in calcareous algae and coral rubble. Neogonodactylus Wennerae is a generalist in its diet; and eats everything he can catch, such as snails, hermits, small crabs.
Color: Variable, often solid green, brown, brick red or cream, sometimes mottled. Like many mantis shrimps, this species changes color depending on the color and depth of the habitat. Animals under 10 m are often red, while in shallow areas animals are green or cream.
Distinguishing features: white meral spot. It is very difficult to visually distinguish Neogonodactyluswennerae from Neogonodactylus bredini, although there are genetic differences. Neogonodactyluswennerae is a species in the northern Caribbean in the intertidal range. Neogonodactylus bredini is more common in the southern Caribbean and is often found in the intertidal zone.
Neogonodactylus owe their name to their fishing tools that resemble externally those of mantis (mantises).Mantis shrimps are predators in the seabed in tropical waters.
Mantis shrimps usually live as territorial solitary predators. They hide in the bottom of tropical seas between rocks and stones or in complex tunnel systems and lurk for prey at their entrance. Mantis shrimps usually only leave their hiding places to look for food or to move to a new hiding place. They are predominantly nocturnal.
A distinction is made between “smashers” and “spearers”. In "smashers", the end joints of the claw legs are thickened into clubs. The prey is smashed with a lightning-fast swing of the clubs. “Spearers” have clearly visible tips on their claws, which are used to impale their prey.
With the help of its extraordinary eyes, the crab targets its prey precisely, then strikes with lightning speed and, if necessary, shatters its shell. All stomatopods have separate sexes.
Neogonodactyluswennerae is a butterfly and lives in reef and boulder bottoms in the Caribbean. It can be found in cavities in calcareous algae and coral rubble. Neogonodactylus Wennerae is a generalist in its diet; and eats everything he can catch, such as snails, hermits, small crabs.
Color: Variable, often solid green, brown, brick red or cream, sometimes mottled. Like many mantis shrimps, this species changes color depending on the color and depth of the habitat. Animals under 10 m are often red, while in shallow areas animals are green or cream.
Distinguishing features: white meral spot. It is very difficult to visually distinguish Neogonodactyluswennerae from Neogonodactylus bredini, although there are genetic differences. Neogonodactyluswennerae is a species in the northern Caribbean in the intertidal range. Neogonodactylus bredini is more common in the southern Caribbean and is often found in the intertidal zone.
