| any stomatopod crustacean having a pair of appendages modified for grasping prey and resembling those of a mantis. |
| mantis shrimp n. See squilla. |
squil·la  (skwĭl'ə)  n. pl. squil·las or squil·lae (skwĭl'ē') Any of various burrowing predatory marine crustaceans of the order Stomatopoda, having movable stalked eyes and a pair of jointed grasping appendages. Also called mantis crab, mantis shrimp. [New Latin Squilla, genus name, from Latin squilla, shrimp; see squill.] |
mantis shrimp
any member of the marine crustacean order Stomatopoda, especially members of the genus Squilla. Mantis shrimps are so called because the second pair of limbs are greatly enlarged and shaped like the large grasping forelimbs of the praying mantid, or mantis, an insect.
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