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Species: Neogonodactylus curacaoensis

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

Common name: None

Functional type: Smasher

Range: Caribbean; Florida to Panama and Curacao

Habitat: Coral reefs; often found in live coral

Depth: 3–50 m

Home: Cavities in live coral; often has more than one cavity

Diet: Generalist; small crustaceans and gastropods

Size: 7–70 mm

Color: Brown, olive or light green; white spots on back; telson carinae and teeth green or bluish green; raptorial dactyl blue; meral spot white

Distinguishing Characters: Orange area at base of the eyestalks; telson with spined dorsal submedian and median carinae and spined marginal teeth

Activity: Diurnal; quite reclusive

Aquarium Requirements:

Temperature: 23–28° C

Salinity: 34–35 PSU

Cohabitants: Will eat very small crustaceans and gastropods

Aquarium size (adult): 40 l

Aquarium substrate: Sand and gravel, LR or rubble, cavity

Suitability for Aquarium: Somewhat difficult; shy; requires very stable, good water parameters

Availability: Occasionally found as hitchhiker in shipments of LR from Florida and Caribbean

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External Anatomy and Explanatory Notes