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Species: Haptosquilla trispinosa

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

Common name: None

Functional type: Smasher

Range: Western Pacific to northeastern Australia and eastern Indonesia

Habitat: Rocky intertidal, reef flat and rubbly sandy bottom

Depth: Low intertidal to 30 m

Home: Cavities in bench, coral rubble, coralline algae and LR

Diet: Generalist; small crustaceans and gastropods; macroplankton in water column

Size: 12–43 mm; usually under 35 mm

Color: Variable; cream and white on sand; green or brown mottle on reef flat, white meral spot

Distinguishing Characters: Flat telson with three bosses; small iridescent blue spots on body, blue patches on 1st maxillipeds; long yellow and red striped antennules

Activity: Diurnal, closes at night

Aquarium Requirements:

Temperature: 22–29° C

Salinity: 33–36 PSU

Cohabitants: Will eat small crustaceans and gastropods

Aquarium size (adult): 20 l

Aquarium substrate: Sand and gravel; coral rubble, LR, cavity

Suitability for Aquarium: Good; hardy; rarely leaves cavity

Availability: Rare; occasionally in reef flat collections from North Queensland

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External Anatomy and Explanatory Notes