Mantis shrimp : Squilla empusa


Kingdom : Animal
   Phylum : Arthropoda
          Class : Malacostraca
               Order : Stomatopoda
                    Family : Squillidae
                         Genus : Squilla
                              Species : empusa

Description:

The grayish blue-green mantis shrimp are predaceous crustaceans with enlarged appendages shaped like cleavers.
In Mayport, some of these shallow water specimens reach 300 cm.

Mantis shrimp, Photo by David Byres These animals have broad abdomens with expanded terminal telsons forming the widest part of the body.

There are five unbranched pairs of thoracic limbs (maxillipeds).

The number two pair serve as a means to spear, slash, and seize prey.


The remaining three pair are more homogenous, biramous, and smaller.

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