Distribution, aggregation and feeding habit promote coexistence among four sympatric species of stomatopods living in tropical mud substrates

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2026

Abstract

Burrowing stomatopods or mantis shrimps, that live on subtidal soft substrates are poorly studied in mangrove-mudflat ecosystems, as in Matang (Malaysia), a major feeding and nursery area for penaeid shrimps and fishes. Since stomatopods are known to be variably predacious, sedentary, territorial, and sometimes gregarious, it is of interest to study how sympatric species live and coexist in such substrates, including their trophic requirements. Bottom trawl samplings in Matang waters over 18 months revealed four species of squillid stomatopods: Clorodopsis scorpio in estuaries, Miyakella nepa and Oratosquillina perpensa in inshore waters, and Harpiosquilla raphidea in offshore waters. Their consistent size ranges and means across nearshore and offshore habitats showed no clear indication of ontogenetic migration. All species display contagious distributions with higher intraspecific than interspecific aggregation, fulfilling the coexistence criterion. Relative prey taxa consumptions are quite similar among conspecifics but vary among heterospecifics. Penaeid shrimp is the main prey for all species except H. raphidea. It is an abundant resource that acts as a hedge against possible prey shortage, allowing prey specialization in H. raphidea (fish feeder), plausibly in C. scorpio (shrimp feeder), and alternative prey choices for M. nepa and O. perpensa (shelled mollusc and crab feeders). The study's findings, despite the methodological constraints, have important implications for fishery management and habitat conservation in that stomatopods and penaeid shrimps are commercially exploited, the former depend on the latter as food, and the latter depend on coastal mangroves and mudflats as nursery areas.

Keywords

Mantis shrimps, Habitat partitioning, Contagious distribution, Inter and intraspecific aggregation, Dietary overlap, Mangrove-mudflat ecosystem

Publication Title

Continental Shelf Research

ISSN

0278-4343

DOI

10.1016/j.csr.2025.105634

Volume

298

First Page

105634

Publisher

Elsevier

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