Squilla

Squilla, a genus of Crustaceans, representative of the order Stomatopoda. The members are sometimes called Mantis Crabs or Mantis Shrimps, from the slight resemblance to the insects of the genus Mantis (q.v.). The body is slightly flattened; the carapace does not completely cover the thorax; the pincers of the large anterior forceps are formed by the last joint closing on the second last; the gills are borne by the first five pairs of abdominal appendages; the last pair of abdominal appendages form a broad tail fin. The species are numerous, especially in tropical seas. They are active, voracious crustaceans, fond of burrowing in the mud; they are often very brightly coloured; the young forms undergo a marked metamorphosis, which has not been completely followed.