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Species: Oratosquilla oratoria

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Click on any image to see an enlargement. All photos © 2009 Roy Caldwell.

Common name: Japanese Mantis Shrimp, eaten as Shako

Functional type: Spearer

Range: Southern Russia and Japan to southeastern Australia

Habitat: Sheltered embayments and estuaries, muddy sand

Depth: 10–20 m

Home: Simple u-shaped burrow

Diet: Shrimp and other small crustaceans

Size: To 18 cm

Color: Dorsal color light grey, carinae and grooves of carapace red, carina on body red, posterior margins of body somites green, telson carina brownish green, apices of primary teeth red, uropodal protopod with red terminal spines, uropodal exopod with proximal segment dark blue distally, distal segment yellow

Distinguishing Characters: Meral spot yellow, six spines on raptorial dactyl, lateral process of 7th thoracic somite strongly bilobed

Activity: Nocturnal

Aquarium Requirements:

Temperature: 20–28° C

Salinity: 28–36 PSU

Cohabitants: Could take shrimp and small fish

Aquarium size (adult): 80 l

Aquarium substrate: Mud for burrowing; sand if supplied pvc burrow

Suitability for Aquarium: Reasonably hardy; do best if allowed to burrow

Availability: Fish markets in Japan and Hong Kong; occasionally exported

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External Anatomy and Explanatory Notes