Striped Mantis Shrimp (Gonodactylus chiragra)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Gonodactylus chiragra
- Common name
- Striped Mantis Shrimp
- Category
- Crustaceans
- Family
- Gonodactylidae
- Genus
- Gonodactylus
- Size
- 10–15 cm
- Depth
- 5–40 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef, rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- benthic, solitary, nocturnal
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Gonodactylus chiragra reaches 15 cm. Tropical Indo-Pacific stomatopod popular in aquarium hobby. Brown-red to blue-greens with transverse bands. Exceptional tricolor eyes. Cavity-sedentary: inhabits reef fissures and cavities 5-40 m. Solitary, highly territorial. Raptorial predator of small crustaceans. Nocturnal-diurnal depending on season. Minimally threatened = LC. Highly observable in coastal macro photography and marine aquaria.
Photo of Striped Mantis Shrimp
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Striped Mantis Shrimp?
- Striped Mantis Shrimp (Gonodactylus chiragra) reaches 10–15 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Striped Mantis Shrimp?
- Striped Mantis Shrimp is found between 5–40 m deep.
- Is the Striped Mantis Shrimp dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Striped Mantis Shrimp?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Striped Mantis Shrimp?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Similar species
- Palinurus elephas - European spiny lobster
- Clibanarius erythropus - Red-legged hermit crab
- Homarus gammarus - European lobster
- Pachygrapsus marmoratus - Marbled rock crab
- Mithraculus forceps - Red-ridged clinging crab
- Mithrax spinosissimus - Channel clinging crab
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 210242)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5717420)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia