Mantis Shrimp on the reef in Grand Cayman
Published on Mar 9, 2014 (238)
This Mantis Shrimp is usually found in reef rubble and burrows in sandy areas. They have large stalked eyes and long spiked fore claws. The powerful claws can slice a finger if you get to close. The larger ones have also been known to break aquarium glass with their claws!
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Mantis shrimp Facts
Mantis shrimp belongs to the group of marine crustaceans. There are around 400 species of mantis shrimps that inhabit shallow subtropical and tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. Mantis shrimps spend most of their life hidden in the rock crevices and burrows on the bottom of the sea. They have colorful shells and body posture that resembles posture of praying mantis. Mantis shrimps are consumed as a delicacy mostly in Asia and Mediterranean countries. Due to their attractive morphology, people often collect mantis shrimp from the wild and keep them in private aquariums. Despite these factors, they are still numerous in the wild. Mantis shrimps are not on the list of endangered species.
Interesting Mantis shrimp Facts:
Mantis shrimps are usually 2 to 7 inches long. Larger species grow 12 inches in length.
Mantis shrimps are brightly colored. Shell of most species is covered with different hues of blue, green, red and orange colors. Forearms are often covered with spots.
Eyes of mantis shrimp are located on the long stalks that can move independently. They have exceptional eyesight that is used both for the detection of the prey and predators.
Mantis shrimps have the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom that can see ultraviolet and polarized light. They have trinocular vision which means that they can see one objects using one of the three different parts of eye.
All mantis shrimps can be divided on spearers and smashes, based on the morphology of appendages and tactic they use to kill the prey.
Spearers have spiny appendages that are used to stab soft-bodied prey such as different types of worms and fish.
Smashers have club-like appendages that easily smash shell of snails, oysters, crustaceans and mollusks.
Attack of mantis shrimps happens extremely quickly - 50 times faster than the blink of an eye. With velocity of 10 meters per second, their punch has the power of a .22 caliber bullet.
Smashers are famous for their incredible strong punches that can break the glass of aquarium.
Most species of mantis shrimps are solitary and territorial creatures. They fiercely defend their home against intruders.
Mantis shrimps are able to recognize their neighbors by the smell and by the morphological characteristics.
Some species of mantis shrimp are monogamous and spend up to 20 years together. During the mating rituals, mantis shrimps often fluoresce.
Females can lay eggs in the burrows or keep them in their forelimbs until they hatch. Some species exhibit parental care. Female lays two sets of eggs, one for her and the other for the father to take care of the eggs until they hatch.
Larvae of mantis shrimps swim as a part of zooplankton up to 3 months. They show aggressive behavior even during the larval stage.
Mantis shrimp can survive more than 20 years in the wild.
