Heterosquilla tricarinata explained

Heterosquilla tricarinata is a species of mantis shrimp in the family Tetrasquillidae. It is known from both the Andaman Islands and New Zealand.^[1]

Heterosquilla tricarinata live in tidal mud flats creating extensive barrow systems.^[2] They can experience low environmental oxygen levels. However, the shrimp is well adapted to the low oxygen levels in its habitat. ^[3] The shrimp ranges from a light beige to greenish colour with the females often having a distinctive red stripe along the spine.

It is an ambush predator with sharp pincers.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Raymond B. Manning . 1978 . New and rare stomatopod Crustacea from the Indo-West-Pacific Region . . 264 . 264 . 1–36 . 10.5479/si.00810282.264. Raymond B. Manning .
2. Web site: Shrimp, Mantis . The Marine Life Database 2020 . University of Otago . 19 October 2024.
3. Innes. Alastair J. 1985. Aerobic scope for activity of the burrowing mantis shrimp Heterosquilla tricarinata at low environmental oxygen tensions. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology. en. 81. 4. 827–832. 10.1016/0300-9629(85)90914-4.
4. Web site: Shrimp, Mantis . The Marine Life Database 2020 . University of Otago . 19 October 2024.