Stomatopod, or mantis shrimp collected of the coast of Brisbane, Australia.
Photo by: Roy Caldwell

Roy Caldwell, Professor of Integrative Biology, studies the behavior and sensory ecology of these pugnacious denizens of the reef. Stomatopods, or mantis shrimps as they are commonly known, are marine predators found in most of the world's shallow seas. Many species are found on the reef living in small cavities which they vigorously defend from other stomatopods. Their bright color patterns are used to signal species and individual identity. This 4 cm long animal was collected from a reef off Brisbane, Australia and is new to science.