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Species: Haptosquilla stoliura

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

Common name: None

Functional type: Smasher

Range: Western Indian Ocean to Western Australia, Indonesia and Philippines

Habitat: Shallow coastal reef flats

Depth: Low intertidal to 3 m

Home: Cavity in coral rubble, LR

Diet: Generalist; small crustaceans and gastropods

Size: 12–65 mm (one of the largest Haptosquilla)

Color: Mostly green dorsally; tan mottling on sides; telson green; long antennules orange; meral spot yellow; iridescent blue patch on first maxilliped

Distinguishing Characters: Three bosses on flattened telson; yellow meral spots; blue patches on 1st maxillipeds; orange antennules

Activity: Diurnal, closes cavity at night

Aquarium Requirements:

Temperature: 22–28° C

Salinity: 33–36 PSU

Cohabitants: Capable of eating small crustaceans and gastropods

Aquarium size (adult): 20 l

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

Suitability for Aquarium: Good; very hardy, not interactive

Availability: Occasionally found in shipments from Philippine and Indonesian reef flats

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External Anatomy and Explanatory Notes