Collecting and processing stomatopods

Stomatopod crustaceans, commonly known as mantis shrimps, are aggressive and agile marine carnivores occurring throughout tropical and temperate waters. Approximately 480 species in 7 superfamilies and 17 families are currently recognized. A rapacious habit and remarkably developed vision makes them challenging to collect in the field. Stomatopods are most common in shallow waters, especially on coral reefs and soft sediments, where they live in substrate cavities or deep burrows, but may also occur as deep as 1500 m. Diverse collecting methods are required and include trawling, dredging, spearing, the use of traps and yabby pumps, manual excavation, and noosing. Also discussed are the use of anaesthetics for studying live material and the preservation of specimens.