Squilla empusa
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Crustacea
- Class: Malacostraca
- Order: Stomatopoda
- Family: Squillidae
- Genus: Squilla
- Species: empusa
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Squilla empusa: //ˈskwɪlə ɛmˈpuːsə//
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Summary
Squilla empusa is a species of mantis shrimp inhabiting coastal areas of the western Atlantic, known for its nocturnal behavior and complex burrowing techniques.
Physical Characteristics
Grows to a length of about 30 cm (12 in). The head has stalked compound eyes that can move independently. The cephalothorax is protected by a shield-like carapace. The thorax has eight appendages, with the first pair being slender for grooming, and the second pair being large raptorial claws used for capturing prey. The abdomen consists of six segments, with the first five segments having biramous pleopods and the sixth segment having large uropods and a flexible, spiked telson that forms a tailfan.
Identification Tips
Look for the large raptorial claws, stalked compound eyes, and the presence of a furrowed burrow in soft sediment.
Habitat
Lives in U-shaped burrows in soft sediment on the seabed, from the intertidal zone to depths of about 150 m (500 ft).
Distribution
Reported from the eastern seaboard of the United States (Cape Cod to the Gulf of Mexico), Brazil, and the Mediterranean Sea.
Diet
Feeds on fish, shrimps, crabs, krill, worms, molluscs, and other mantis shrimps.
Tags
- mantis shrimp
- Squilla empusa
- marine biology
- crustacean