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Species: Gonodactylaceus glabrous

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

Common name: None

Functional type: Smasher

Range: Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Australia

Habitat: In shore coral reef flats, dead coral rubble

Depth: Low intertidal to 10 m

Home: Cavities in coral rubble

Diet: Generalist; small gastropods and crustaceans

Size: 8–80 mm

Color: Sexually color dimorphic; males dark green with blue antennal scales, pleopods and uropods; females light green, yellow or orange with yellow and red on their antennal scales, pleopods and uropods; meral spot orange

Distinguishing Characters: Orange meral spot; no median carinule (arrow) on sixth abdominal segment

Activity: Diurnal; closes cavity at night

Aquarium Requirements:

Temperature: 22–28° C

Salinity: 33–36 PSU

Cohabitants: Will eat small crustaceans and gastropods; will chip coral

Aquarium size (adult): 20 l

Aquarium substrate: Sand and gravel, coral rubble, cavity

Suitability for Aquarium: Excellent; hardy, moderately interactive

Availability: Rarely shipped from Philippines and Indonesia

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External Anatomy and Explanatory Notes