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Pseudosquilla ciliata are aquatic organisms commonly referred to as mantis shrimp (Caldwell, 2005).  This organism is predominantly found in shallow locations of tropical and sub-tropical bodies of water near coral reefs, grass flats, reef beds, and sandy bottoms along with other mantis shrimp, small fish, and worms (Caldwell, 2005; Manning and Reaka, 1981).

 

An interactive P. ciliata map from Discover Life. Click here to get started!

 

The information in this paragraph is from an article by Reaka in 1980. Pseudosquilla ciliata live specifically in burrows from an excavated hole within the mud or in the crevice of large masses of coral.  Burrows are essential for aiding in the lifestyle of stomatopods.  Many of their daily activities and life events take place in burrows.  Typically burrows are used when a stomatopod takes place in mating, brooding eggs, and ecdysis - molting.

 

                                                                                

Wikepedia: Shumpei Maruyama © 2008According to a secondary research article by Reaka in 1980, a study was done at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology where biologists observed stomatopods’ behavior.  Their behavior was based on exposure to experimental flasks ,which were set up to resemble burrows.  This study not only consisted of varying ranges of time a certain individual (from a sample of fifty-eight) was or was not exposed to flasks which, but also there were three different sizes and colors of flasks being placed in various directions per individual. Biologist presented the flasks to the mantis shrimp for different amounts of time and under different conditions like the tilt of the flask, the size of the flask, etc. The results confirmed that there was no preference to any flask more than another, and that the stomatopods were able to adapt to their new terrestrial environment as predicted. This study specifically shows how adaptive P. ciliata are to even the slightest of changes in their habitat.

 

According to biologist R.A. Kinzie’s study in 1968, Pseudosquilla ciliata is an adaptable organism.  P. ciliata are specific species of crustaceans that are not restricted to any one certain type of habitat (Manning and Reaka, 1981).  P. ciliata are able to make use of these very different environmental distinctions in varying habitats such as grass flats, coral reefs, and coral rubble (Manning and Reaka, 1981). For example, in Hawaii, after the post war development, P. ciliata filled many new habitats of the sub-tropical waters unlike anything other stomatopods would have the ability to do after being exposed to a similar situation (Manning and Reaka, 1981).

 

 

 

         

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