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Haptosquilla trispinosa

  • Crustaceans
  • IUCN: Not evaluated
  • Usual depth13–47 m
  • Water temperature24–29 °C
  • Best monthsMay
  • How commonRare
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About this species

Haptosquilla trispinosa is a species of mantis shrimp. This is a smasher species using its raptorial appendages like a club to prey on hard-shelled animals and to defend its burrow. This species is a coral-dwelling crustacean that is common to the Indo-West Pacific tropical waters. H. trispinosa has been found from depths ranging from the low intertidal zone to more than 30 m (100 ft). This animal is relatively small compared to other stomatopods, measuring typically under 35 mm (1.4 in). The females are generally larger than their male counterparts and prefer mating with smaller males. It is believed that mantis shrimp species like H. trispinosa exhibit some of the most sophisticated visual systems in nature. H. trispinosa utilizes its advanced vision for nearly every aspect of life, like mating, hunting and defense.

Text from the Wikipedia article “Haptosquilla trispinosa”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article

Where and when

Where it has been recorded

Worldwide

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Best months

Worldwide (open data)

  • January: 0 records
  • February: 0 records
  • March: 0 records
  • April: 2 records
  • May: 8 records
  • June: 0 records
  • July: 1 records
  • August: 0 records
  • September: 3 records
  • October: 0 records
  • November: 3 records
  • December: 1 records

Depth and water temperature

Depth

Mostly recorded at 13–47 m · Deepest record: 67 m

  • 0–10 m: 1 records
  • 10–20 m: 20 records
  • 20–30 m: 18 records
  • 30–40 m: 6 records
  • 40–50 m: 7 records
  • 50–60 m: 2 records
  • 60–70 m: 3 records

Water temperature

Recorded in surface water of 24–29 °C

  • 24–26 °C: 46 records
  • 26–28 °C: 34 records
  • 28–30 °C: 1 records

Names and classification

Other scientific names: Gonodactylus trispinosus

Similar species

Sources and credits

Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).

  • Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
  • Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
  • Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
  • 235 open-data records from 1982 to 2009.
  • Species data updated November 3, 2026.

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