| Squilla mantis | |
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| Squilla mantis | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Stomatopoda |
| Family: | Squillidae |
| Genus: | Squilla |
| Species: | S. mantis |
| Binomial name | |
| Squilla mantis | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
Cancer mantisLinnaeus, 1758 | |
Squilla mantis, also called thespot-tail mantis shrimp, is aspecies ofmantis shrimp found in shallow coastal areas of theMediterranean Sea and the EasternAtlantic Ocean. It is also known as "pacchero" or "canocchia". Its abundance has led to it being the only commercially fished mantis shrimp in the Mediterranean.
Individuals grow up to 200 millimetres (8 in) long.[2] This species is of thespearer type,[3] distinguished by having forelimbs formed into spiked, elongated "spears" used to capture soft-bodied prey.[4] It is generally dull brown in colouration, but has two browneye spots, circled in white, at the base of thetelson.[5] Other species – includingsmashers – are also sold in theaquarium trade asSquilla mantis.[6]
It is found around the entire coast of the Mediterranean, and in the Atlantic Ocean south from theGulf of Cádiz toAngola, as well as around theCanary Islands, andMadeira. It has historically been recorded fromGalicia, theBay of Biscay, and theBritish Isles, but is not known to occur there any more.[7]
It is particularly abundant on sandy and muddy bottoms where there is significantrun-off fromrivers, and where the substrate is suitable for burrowing. In the Mediterranean, the outflows from theNile,Po,Ebro andRhône provide these conditions. Spot-tail mantis shrimp are typically encountered to depths of 150 metres (490 ft), with their highest densities commonly occurring in the 50–60 metres (160–200 ft) range. Sporadic presence occurs in deeper waters to a maximum recorded depth of 367 metres (1,204 ft).[7]
S. mantis digsburrows in muddy and sandy bottoms near coastlines.[2] It remains in its burrow during the day and comes out at night tohunt, and in the winter tomate. Their feeding activity is strongly linked to the night, and captive specimens tend to refuse food during the day. Adults are strongly sedentary.[7]
ThealpheidshrimpAthanas amazone often lives in the burrows ofS. mantis, despite being of a similar size to other shrimp whichS. mantis feeds on.[8] The relationship between the two species remains unknown, although a second similar case has been reported for the speciesAthanas squillophilus in the burrows ofOratosquilla oratoria inJapanese waters.[9]
Spot-tail mantis shrimp are opportunistic predators and scavengers that feed on a variety of food sources determined by local availability. Common food items include other crustaceans such ascrabs anddecapods, mollusks such asbivalves andsquid,polychaetes, and benthic fishes, alongside algae and other prey. The species has been observed following fishing boats to feed on dead animals.[7][10]S. mantis also display cannibalistic tendencies and have been recorded with remnants of conspecifics in their digestive tracts.[10] Mantis shrimp have also been recorded feeding on the egg masses ofcommon cuttlefish.[11]
The reproductive season ofS. mantis occurs over winter and spring; gonad maturity tends to peak in April in theLigurian Sea, while in theAdriatic Sea it tends to peak between February and March. After laying, the females attach their eggs to their anterior legs using a sticky secretion produced from cement glands in theirsternums. They afterwards spend spring and early summer incubating them, and do not leave their burrows or feed during this period. The eggs hatch between late spring and late summer. The larvae, termedalima, are planktonic and remain in the water column over summer and early autumn; larval numbers are highest in August, but some remain present as late as November. After passing through ten aquatic molts, the larvae settle on the sea bottom and grow to adult size over the remainder of the year; female shrimp typically spawn within their second year. While some specimens appear to grow into a third year of life, mostS. mantis only spawn once.[7]
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S. mantis is the only nativestomatopod to be fished for on a commercial scale in the Mediterranean. Over 7,000 t is caught annually, 85% of which is caught onItalian shores of theAdriatic Sea.[12]Spain is an important secondary center of catch, while smaller fisheries exist inFrance,Israel, andEgypt.[7] Outside of the Mediterranean, it is consumed in Andalusia in the Gulf of Cadiz under the name of "galera".[citation needed]
Spot-tail mantis shrimp are typically caught as a valued by-catch in multi-speciestrawling focused on other catches such assole andbivalves. Dedicated fishing of the species typically employstrammel nets andgillnets. Catches are generally highest in the winter, when adults are mating, and lowest in spring and early summer, when females do not leave their burrows.[7] Due to consisting chiefly of bycatch, the fishery of the species is not specifically regulated.[13]
Authority control databases: National |
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