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Species: Odontodactylus latirostris

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

Common name: None

Functional type: Smasher

Range: Amirante Islands to Andaman Sea, Indonesia to New Caledonia and Queensland

Habitat: Rubbly sand bottom

Depth: 15–50 m

Home: Simple u-shaped burrow constructed of gravel, shell, and pieces of live rock

Diet: Generalist; small crustaceans and gastropods

Size: 20–80 mm

Color: Mottled brown with red and white raptorial appendages, pink uropods

Distinguishing Characters: Bluish purple antennal scales in female, red in male

Activity: Diurnal, closes at night

Aquarium Requirements:

Temperature: 20–28° C

Salinity: 34–35 PSU

Cohabitants: Large gastropods, echinoderms, clams acceptable

Aquarium size (adult): 80 l

Aquarium substrate: Sand and gravel with small pieces of LR

Suitability for Aquarium: Good; does not tolerate low oxygen or high ammonia; active and interactive

Availability: Rare; occasionally found in shipments from Indonesia

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External Anatomy and Explanatory Notes