Rissoides desmaresti is a species of mantis shrimp native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

Rissoides desmaresti
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Stomatopoda
Family: Squillidae
Genus: Rissoides
Species:
R. desmaresti
Binomial name
Rissoides desmaresti
(Risso, 1816)
Synonyms
  • Meiosquilla desmaresti
  • Squilla desmaresti

Distribution edit

R. desmaresti is one of only two species of stomatopod found around the British Isles, and one of twelve species in the Mediterranean.[1] It is relatively common in the Mediterranean, and is found along the European coast as far as the British Isles, although it has not been recorded off the coast of West Africa.[2] Around Great Britain, there have been a few observations from the English Channel and North Wales,[3][4] but the only place where significant numbers are known to occur is on a 25-hectare (62-acre) site east of Saint Tudwal's Islands in Tremadog Bay.[5] Its occurrence there may be related to warm currents coming from the Bay of Biscay and the sheltered nature of the area.[5]

Description edit

R. desmaresti has a dorso-ventrally flattened body and may reach a size of 70 millimetres (2.8 in). The carapace is small and is only fused to the first two segments of the thorax.[2] R. demsaresti is distinguished from the other British species, Platysquilla eusebia, by the number of spines on the last segment of the raptorial claw; R. desmaresti has five spines, while P. eusebia has a dozen or more.[4] It lives in burrows below from the subtidal zone down to depths of around 40 metres (130 ft).[2]

Etymology edit

The specific epithet "desmaresti" commemorates Anselme Gaëtan Desmarest,[6] while the generic name Rissoides commemorates Antoine Risso.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ Shane T. Ahyong & Bella S. Galil (2006). "First Mediterranean record of the Indo-West Pacific mantis shrimp, Clorida albolitura Ahyong & Naiyanetr, 2000 (Stomatopoda, Squillidae)" (PDF). Aquatic Invasions. 1 (3): 191–193. doi:10.3391/ai.2006.1.3.16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-28.
  2. ^ a b c M. J. de Kluijver & S. S. Ingalsuo. "Meiosquilla desmaresti". Macrobenthos of the North Sea. Universiteit van Amsterdam. Archived from the original on 2007-09-09.
  3. ^ Rohan Holt. "Rissoides desmaresti (Risso, 1816)". British Marine Life Study Society. Retrieved August 26, 2007.
  4. ^ a b Anna Neish (2003). "A mantis shrimp - Rissoides desmaresti". Marine Life Information Network for Britain and Ireland.
  5. ^ a b Kirsten Ramsay & Rohan H. F. Holt (2001). "Mantis shrimps Rissoides desmaresti in Tremadog Bay, North Wales". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK. 81 (4): 695–696. doi:10.1017/S0025315401004398.
  6. ^ Hans G. Hansen. "Biographical Etymology of Marine Organism Names: D". Tjärnö Marine Biological Laboratory, Göteborg University & Stockholm University. Retrieved August 26, 2007.
  7. ^ Hans G. Hansen. "Biographical Etymology of Marine Organism Names: Q & R". Tjärnö Marine Biological Laboratory, Göteborg University & Stockholm University. Retrieved August 26, 2007.