Stomatopod Images

Peekaboo: Odontodactylus brevirostris

Although the typical peacock mantis shrimp is Odontodactylus scyllarus, this other Odontodactylus is a favorite of Dr. Caldwell. He says that this Hawaiian species called Odontodactylus brevirostris does well in an aquarium. It gets to only 6 cm, but is very active during the day, rarely kills fish, and while it digs and builds, it can't move large coral blocks. The eyes are very conspicuous with the dark markings.

O. brevirostris is common in Hawaii at 10 m+ on coralline algal slopes.