Gonodactylus smithii | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Malacostraca |
Order: | Stomatopoda |
Family: | Gonodactylidae |
Genus: | Gonodactylus |
Species: | G. smithii
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Binomial name | |
Gonodactylus smithii |
Gonodactylus smithii, also known as the purple spot mantis shrimp or Smith's mantis shrimp, is a species of the smasher type of mantis shrimp. [2] G. smithii are the first animals discovered to be capable of dynamic polarization vision. [3] They are identified by their distinctive meral spots ranging from maroon to purple with a white ring, though those that inhabit depths below 10 meters tend to be colored maroon. [4] They also have raptorial dactyles, specialized forelimbs that are pigmented green and red, and antennal scales that are yellow. [4]
Gonodactylus smithii are aggressive benthic marine predators that exhibit highly specialized color vision. [5] On average, they are around 60 millimeters in length, but have been found to be as large as 380 millimeters. [5] [4] The morphology of both males and females are isometrically proportional to their respective body masses. [6] Their mass ranges between 10 and 300 grams, with the average being around 60 grams. [4] Their basal metabolic rate ranges from 0.0125 to 0.02 cm3.02/g/hr, with the average being around 0.0175 cm3.02/g/hr. [4]
Gonodactylus smithii are found in tropical littoral zones in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, and widespread in Australia, India, and eastern Africa. [2] [5] They are also found in regions south of Japan and around Guam. [4] Gonodactylus smithii reside in coral reef flats in both shallow waters and low intertidal depths ranging from 1 to 60 meters, but are most commonly found in the low intertidal zone. [2] Gonodactylus smithii typically dwell in the cavities they create in either live coral or coral rubble. [4]
Gonodactylus smithii reproduce all year long, but breeding is more concentrated during warmer months. [4] They are generally monogamous, though some are polygynous. [4] Males usually pursue females in their native habitats. [5] Initially, males, using an external copulation organ, insert gonadopods into female gonadopores. [4] Sperm is released, with females holding the males briefly. [4] Females then release both the males and their eggs, with fertilization occurring. [4] Males typically leave after copulation and do not invest in the females nor their offspring. [4] Females are oviparous, laying eggs that eventually hatch. [4]
Gonodactylus smithii have a bipartite life cycle. [7] They begin with a larval phase, during which dispersal occurs, then mature into an adult phase. [7] There are 7 larval stages, with the first 3 stages taking between 1 and 3 days, the fourth stage taking between 6 and 8 days, and the final 3 stages taking up to 38 days. [8]
Gonodactylus smithii utilize their smashing raptorial claws as a mechanism to catch prey. [4] The claws can easily shatter shells, stunning the prey. [4] Gonodactylus smithii are generally carnivorous, specifically preying on fish, molluscs, non-insect arthropods, crustaceans, bivalves, and gastropods. [4]
Gonodactylus smithii are capable of many signaling behaviors and exhibit offensive and defensive actions while doing so. [5] Offensive actions include pushing the telson into the domicile of the resident, grasping the body of another using maxillipeds, and using dactyls to pierce through another. [5] Defensive actions include simply avoiding, and bending the abdomen so that it brings the telson underneath and up to the front. [5]
A behavior unique to Gonodactylus smithii is that they are capable of dynamic polarization vision. [3] Unlike other organisms, stomatopods only fixate their gaze on objects of interest from time to time. [3] They are able to focus their eyes with a series of rotations, and their eyes are capable of moving independently of the other. [3] One type of rotation they use is torsional rotation, in which their ability to see the polarization of light is amplified. [3] They rotate their eyes so that certain photoreceptors are aligned with the angle of polarization of a linearly polarized visual stimulus. [3] This allows them to isolate the contrast between the object of interest and its background. [3] The study of the eye structure of Gonodactylus smithii can generate more information on digital and visual storage capacity. [4]
Gonodactylus smithii are essential to their ecosystem as they provide habitats for other organisms. [4] The cavities that they create are left behind for other organisms to dwell in, and some host parasites, though this has led to the contracting of diseases in their shells. [4]
Gonodactylus smithii | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Malacostraca |
Order: | Stomatopoda |
Family: | Gonodactylidae |
Genus: | Gonodactylus |
Species: | G. smithii
|
Binomial name | |
Gonodactylus smithii |
Gonodactylus smithii, also known as the purple spot mantis shrimp or Smith's mantis shrimp, is a species of the smasher type of mantis shrimp. [2] G. smithii are the first animals discovered to be capable of dynamic polarization vision. [3] They are identified by their distinctive meral spots ranging from maroon to purple with a white ring, though those that inhabit depths below 10 meters tend to be colored maroon. [4] They also have raptorial dactyles, specialized forelimbs that are pigmented green and red, and antennal scales that are yellow. [4]
Gonodactylus smithii are aggressive benthic marine predators that exhibit highly specialized color vision. [5] On average, they are around 60 millimeters in length, but have been found to be as large as 380 millimeters. [5] [4] The morphology of both males and females are isometrically proportional to their respective body masses. [6] Their mass ranges between 10 and 300 grams, with the average being around 60 grams. [4] Their basal metabolic rate ranges from 0.0125 to 0.02 cm3.02/g/hr, with the average being around 0.0175 cm3.02/g/hr. [4]
Gonodactylus smithii are found in tropical littoral zones in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, and widespread in Australia, India, and eastern Africa. [2] [5] They are also found in regions south of Japan and around Guam. [4] Gonodactylus smithii reside in coral reef flats in both shallow waters and low intertidal depths ranging from 1 to 60 meters, but are most commonly found in the low intertidal zone. [2] Gonodactylus smithii typically dwell in the cavities they create in either live coral or coral rubble. [4]
Gonodactylus smithii reproduce all year long, but breeding is more concentrated during warmer months. [4] They are generally monogamous, though some are polygynous. [4] Males usually pursue females in their native habitats. [5] Initially, males, using an external copulation organ, insert gonadopods into female gonadopores. [4] Sperm is released, with females holding the males briefly. [4] Females then release both the males and their eggs, with fertilization occurring. [4] Males typically leave after copulation and do not invest in the females nor their offspring. [4] Females are oviparous, laying eggs that eventually hatch. [4]
Gonodactylus smithii have a bipartite life cycle. [7] They begin with a larval phase, during which dispersal occurs, then mature into an adult phase. [7] There are 7 larval stages, with the first 3 stages taking between 1 and 3 days, the fourth stage taking between 6 and 8 days, and the final 3 stages taking up to 38 days. [8]
Gonodactylus smithii utilize their smashing raptorial claws as a mechanism to catch prey. [4] The claws can easily shatter shells, stunning the prey. [4] Gonodactylus smithii are generally carnivorous, specifically preying on fish, molluscs, non-insect arthropods, crustaceans, bivalves, and gastropods. [4]
Gonodactylus smithii are capable of many signaling behaviors and exhibit offensive and defensive actions while doing so. [5] Offensive actions include pushing the telson into the domicile of the resident, grasping the body of another using maxillipeds, and using dactyls to pierce through another. [5] Defensive actions include simply avoiding, and bending the abdomen so that it brings the telson underneath and up to the front. [5]
A behavior unique to Gonodactylus smithii is that they are capable of dynamic polarization vision. [3] Unlike other organisms, stomatopods only fixate their gaze on objects of interest from time to time. [3] They are able to focus their eyes with a series of rotations, and their eyes are capable of moving independently of the other. [3] One type of rotation they use is torsional rotation, in which their ability to see the polarization of light is amplified. [3] They rotate their eyes so that certain photoreceptors are aligned with the angle of polarization of a linearly polarized visual stimulus. [3] This allows them to isolate the contrast between the object of interest and its background. [3] The study of the eye structure of Gonodactylus smithii can generate more information on digital and visual storage capacity. [4]
Gonodactylus smithii are essential to their ecosystem as they provide habitats for other organisms. [4] The cavities that they create are left behind for other organisms to dwell in, and some host parasites, though this has led to the contracting of diseases in their shells. [4]