Previous species

Species: Gonodactylaceus falcatus

Next species

Click on any image to see an enlargement. All photos © 2005 Roy Caldwell.

Common name: None

Functional type: Smasher

Range: Hawaii (introduced) and French Polynesia to Red Sea

Habitat: Reef flat and live corals, particularly branching species; rubble

Depth: Low intertidal to 10 m

Home: Cavities in rubble and live coral

Diet: Generalist; small crustaceans and gastropods

Size: 7–80 mm

Color: Highly color polymorphic, green, cream, tan mottle, greenish yellow meral spot

Distinguishing Characters: Telson with five, mid-dorsal carinae; pairs of black spots on anterior telson and 6th abdominal tergite; yellow-green meral spot

Activity: Diurnal, closes cavity at night

Aquarium Requirements:

Temperature: 22–28° C

Salinity: 33–35 PSU

Cohabitants: Will eat smallest snails and crustaceans

Aquarium size (adult): 20 l

Aquarium substrate: Sand and gravel, LR or coral rubble, cavity

Suitability for Aquarium: Good; not particularly hardy, not very interactive

Availability: Occasionally found in shipments from the Philippines and Indonesia; can be collected in Hawaii, especially Kaneohe Bay, Oahu

Back to the Species Directory
External Anatomy and Explanatory Notes