mantis crab

mantis crab
    n 1: tropical marine burrowing crustaceans with large grasping
         appendages [syn: {mantis shrimp}, {mantis crab}]
    

Mantis \Man"tis\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? a prophet.] (Zool.)
   Any one of numerous species of voracious orthopterous insects
   of the genus {Mantis}, and allied genera. They are predacious
   long-bodied large-eyed insects of warm regions, are
   remarkable for their slender grotesque forms, and for holding
   their stout anterior legs in a manner suggesting hands folded
   in prayer. The common American species is {Mantis Carolina}.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Mantis shrimp}. (Zool.) The {Squilla}, a tropical marine
      burrowing crustacean with large grasping appendages. Also
      called {mantis crab} and {mantis prawn}.
      [1913 Webster]
    

mantis crab \mantis crab\ n.
   Same as {Squilla}.

   Syn: Mantis shrimp.
        [WordNet 1.5]