Previous species

Species: Echinosquilla guerinii

Next species

Click on any image to see an enlargement. All photos © 2005 Roy Caldwell.

Common name: Urchin Mantis Shrimp

Functional type: Smasher

Range: Central Pacific and Hawaii to Western Indian Ocean

Habitat: Coral reefs, reef walls

Depth: 10–50 m

Home: Cavities in hard substrates, often large worm tubes; juveniles in coral rubble

Diet: Unknown; has been found eating crabs, gastropods and other species of mantis shrimp

Size: 8–80 mm

Color: Yellow, orange or more typically red with while spots, while spots form band running across carapace and raptorial meri, no prominent meral spot; telson spines white

Distinguishing Characters: Bilobed eyes; spined telson that mimics an echinometrid urchin

Activity: Crepuscular, rarely leaves cavity; often seen blocking entrance with telson

Aquarium Requirements:

Temperature: 22–28° C

Salinity: 33–35 PSU

Cohabitants: Unknown; will eat small prey, almost never leaves cavity

Aquarium size (adult): 20 l

Aquarium substrate: Requires tight-fitting, long narrow cavity, either pvc pipe or in rubble

Suitability for Aquarium: Good; needs stable water parameters; not active but usually can be seen looking out of cavity entrance; use of unusual telson that mimics urchin is interesting

Availability: Rare; occasionally can be specially ordered from collectors in Hawaii; while common at 20–30 m, because of the nature of their cavities, E. guerinii are extremely difficult to collect alive

Back to the Species Directory
External Anatomy and Explanatory Notes