Collected: July2006, 45 km off of Assateague, VA. depth of 25 m.

Plankton net using a vertical tow.

Notes:oecil{{{ostomatoida)
Mantis shrimps are named because of their resemblance to the terrestrial preying mantis Like theier namesake, they use their huge claws to capture prey. Adult mantis shrimps live in burrows on the bottom and feed on crustaceans and small fishes.

Mantis shrimps have anumnber of planktonic larval stages. Little is known of the behavior or ecology during the planktonic phase, but these later larvae appear well equipped to be serious predators.

Click here for a link to an earlier stage.

Collected by: Dr. Julie Ambler, Millersville University, Millersville, PA.

Photographed by: Bill Johnson, Goucher College.