Barbed-claw Mantis Shrimp, Squilla mantoidea

Barbed-claw Mantis Shrimp, Squilla mantoidea. Underwater photograph taken in Zihuatanejo Bay, Guerrero, February 2022. Photograph courtesy of Ron Woheau, Zihuatanejo.  Identification courtesy of Bob Hillis, Ivins, Utah.

Phylogeny: The Barbed-claw Mantis Shrimp, Squilla mantoidea (Bigelow, 1893), is a member of the Squillidae Family of Mantis Shrimp. The Squilla Genus is one of forty-eight genera in the Squillidae  Family, and there are twenty-two species in the Squilla Genus. Mantis Shrimps in the Squilla Genus are spearing mantis shrimps, as compared to smashing mantis shrimps. They are also known as Catalina Mantis Shrimp and Common Mantis Shrimp and in Mexico as Estomatópodo Garra de Púas.

Morphology: Barbed-claw Mantis Shrimp are tan to gray in color with brown banding on the back half of each abdominal segment, and  brown spots along their sides. The uropods may be gray or dark brown, with yellowish margins. The legs and raptorial claws are tan to white. Like other Mantis Shrimps they have stalked compound eyes and flagellated antennae that look like wings. They have 6 barbs on their raptorial claw. Barbed-claw Mantis Shrimp reach a maximum of 25 cm (10 inches) in length.

Habitat and Distribution: Barbed-claw Mantis Shrimp are found on sand or mud substrates, in burrows or depressions. They live at depths between 4 m (13 feet) and 60 m (197 feet).   The Barbed-claw Mantis Shrimp is  a subtropical to tropical Eastern Pacific species that are found in all Mexican waters of the Pacific Ocean with the excpeption tha t  they are absent from the west coast of the Baja Peninsula and f rom north of Bahía de Kino, Sonora, in the Sea of Cortez.

Diet: Barbed-claw Mantis Shrimp are predatory carnivores. They capture their food by spearing it with their sharp raptorial claws. The available literature does not describe the diet of Barbed-claw Mantis Shrimp specifically, but other mantis shrimps in Squilla Genus consume crabs, fish, hermit crabs, krill, shrimps, worms, and other mantis shrimps.

Predators:  Predation of Barbed-claw Mantis Shrimp  has not been documented, however other mantis shrimp in Squilla Genus are preyed upon by cuttlefish, fish, octopuses, rays, sharks, and squid.

Reproduction: Barbed-claw Mantis Shrimp are gonochoric (male or female for life). Reproduction is sexual with fertilization occurring internally. Very little is known about Barbed-claw Mantis Shrimp mating behavior. Within this genus mating behavior varies from monogamous to promiscuous. Males use sperm ducts rather than spermatophores to inseminate the female. Females can brood tens of thousands of eggs and they incubate the eggs in their burrows. The eggs hatch into planktonic larva which, after a few months, metamorphose into their adult form.

Ecosystem Interactions: The interspecies relationships between Barbed-claw Mantis Shrimp and other species has not been formally documented. Some mantis shrimps are parasitized by small gastropods and worms. It is unknown if the Barbed-claw Mantis Shrimp share their burrow with other species.

Human Interactions:  From a conservation perspective the Barbed-claw Mantis Shrimp has not been formally evaluated, but they have a  wide distribution and should be consider to be of Least Concern. They are sometimes collected as  by-catch by shrimp trawlers and represent a modest commercial fishery. Otherwise, they have limited direct impact on human activities.

Synonyms: None

Caution: the second pair of thoracic appendages of these Mantis Shrimp are sharp and inflict serious lacerations if not handled carefully.