| any stomatopod crustacean having a pair of appendages modified for grasping prey and resembling those of a mantis. |
| mantis crab 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.] |