Golden Mantis Shrimp

Lysiosquilloides mapia is a praying mantis crab species from the Lysiosquillidae family.

Description

It is orange to golden yellow and shiny. It is characterized by its elongated eyes at the conical and curved top. Its ventral keel is angular. The orange abdomen has yellow bands alternating with black bands interrupted in the middle and the ends widening into large spots. The word "mapia" in its designation means "beautiful" in an Indonesian dialect, hence the proposed common name.

Distribution

West Pacific Ocean from Indonesia to Fiji.

Habitat and Biology

Prefers to burrow in areas with black, volcanic sand and influx of freshwater. It is usually seated at the entrance to its hole often dug in volcanic black sand. Aproiri, only the male is visible, the females are probably very discreet. A small white shrimp of the genus Alpheidae maybe on its head probably for cleaning. Very fast and very active, it hunts night and sometimes day, on the lookout thanks to its extremely powerful sight, the head out of its hole. It feeds on fish, molluscs and crustaceans.

Dangerous for human

Squils can cause painful wounds with their fearsome forceps, severing the finger of a reckless diver or breaking the porthole of a waterproof case. It is not advisable to approach it too closely, its speed is such that movement is not perceived by the human eye.