are mantis shrimp actually shrimp

What are mantis shrimp?

Despite their name, mantis shrimp are not true shrimp but a type of stomatopod: a relative of crabs and lobsters that has been on Earth for over 400 million years. There are more than 400 different species of mantis shrimp.

Peacock mantis shrimp—also called harlequin or painted mantis shrimp—are arguably the best-known of the family. The name of these bugs comes from their kaleidoscope shell, which looks like a peacock’s tail, and their hinged forearms, which look like a praying mantis’ and are hidden until they’re ready to attack. These wild, aggressive animals are known for having a punch that is as fast as a bullet and strong enough to break a crab’s claw.

Mantis shrimp live in warm, shallow waters in the Indian and Pacific oceans. They use their front arm, which looks like a raptor’s, to dig holes in the seafloor around a coral reef to make a home. When they move on, other marine animals may take up residence in the abandoned burrow.

Peacock mantis shrimp have red legs and rainbow shells that are usually blue, green, and yellow. They grow to be about the length of a butter knife. Their purple eyes are on top of stalks above their heads, and they can move apart to get a better look.

Not all mantis shrimp boast these spectacular colors. Zebra mantis shrimp—the largest of all the species—are named for their cream and brown stripes, while Red Sea mantis shrimp are beige with thin red stripes and a dark rear end.

But all these animals are best known for their mighty front claws—responsible for their impressive hunting skills.

Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Mantis shrimp are small but impressive predators that can kill prey bigger than themselves. Depending on the species, mantis shrimp use one of two hunting strategies: “Spearer” species lay in wait then skewer unsuspecting fish by using a large spike at the end of their arms. Meanwhile “smashers” like the peacock mantis shrimp use their hammer-like claws to attack their hard-shelled prey—such as crabs and clams—with a powerful punch.

How does that punch work? The shrimp’s clubbed arm is held in place by a latch when it’s not in use, so energy can build up. A saddle-shaped spring within the arm helps store even more energy. When the animal lets go of the latch, the spring moves the claw forward 50 times faster than we can blink so that it can hit its prey. At 75 feet per second, it is one of the fastest limb movements of any animal.

The strike is so fast—the speed of a .22 caliber bullet—that it causes bubbles to form and collapse in the water. This energy release creates an impressive force thousands of times the shrimp’s bodyweight that combines with the initial strike to smash open the shell of a mantis shrimp’s prey, killing the animal inside.

Remarkably, mantis shrimp are unharmed by the blow thanks to complex layers within the club which absorb the impact and prevent the claw from cracking. This innovative design has inspired the development of materials for armor, sports helmets, and vehicles.

Mantis shrimp use the same technique to defend themselves from predators. However, they only use this energy-intensive method of self-defense if they must. When under threat, they perform a behavioral display known as a meral spread before resorting to violence: standing on their hind legs, puffing up their chest, and spreading their arms to look as large and intimidating as possible. If the predator isn’t put off by this display, the shrimp will attack.

These crustaceans have among the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom. Their eyes can work alone or together, so they can see far away and focus on their prey at the same time. Each eye has three focal points, allowing the animal to perceive depth with either eye.

Human eyes have three photoreceptors—cells that detect color—to distinguish between blue, green, and red light. With a staggering 12 photoreceptors, mantis shrimp can see 12 different wavelengths of light. It’s not clear what these photoreceptors are for, though, because they can’t tell subtle color differences as well as humans can.

Mantis shrimp are the only animals that can see circularly polarized light, which moves in a spiral. Humans can only see UV light and polarized light, which is made up of waves. According to researchers, this might let them talk to each other by showing patterns on their shells that only other mantis shrimp can see. This might help them attract a mate or indicate that their burrow is already occupied.

Mantis shrimp leave the safety of their burrow and zigzag across the sand until they find a mate. The female will store the male’s sperm until she is ready to spawn.

After laying her eggs, the female glues them together with a sticky substance secreted from a cement gland on her abdomen, gathers them up, and carries them into her burrow to look after them until they hatch. The young larvae can deliver the species’ famed punch after around nine days.

While not all species are monogamous, zebra mantis shrimp can live together in their burrow for life. But, with the male responsible for all the hunting, the female could starve to death if he is killed while out looking for food, or if he abandons her for a larger female who can produce more eggs.

Mantis shrimp are likely to be affected by rising sea levels, acidification of the ocean, habitat loss, and pollution, just like other reef species. They are preyed on by large fish, cuttlefish, squid, and octopus.

Peacock mantis shrimp are popular among aquarium enthusiasts but can be difficult to keep in captivity because they often eat other species and can break glass tanks with their claws.

People can eat mantis shrimp—in some Asian countries, they are considered a treat—but they don’t do it very often because they fight so hard.

Mantis Shrimp Packs a Punch | Predator in Paradise

Are mantis shrimp real shrimp?

The mantis shrimp might masquerade as shrimp, but these charming crustaceans aren’t actually true shrimp — instead more of a distant cousin. Despite their common name, these colorful critters belong to the Stomatopoda squad, an order exclusively of mantis shrimp that either punch or spear their prey.

Are mantis shrimp carnivorous?

Mantis shrimp are carnivorous marine crustaceans of the order Stomatopoda (from Ancient Greek στόμα (stóma) ‘mouth’, and ποδός (podós) ‘foot’). Stomatopods branched off from other members of the class Malacostraca around 340 million years ago.

Are mantis shrimp stomatopods?

First off, despite their names, mantis shrimp aren’t actually shrimp. They are stomatopods, which are carnivorous marine crustaceans and distant relatives to crabs and lobsters. However, since most mantis shrimp are between 2 to 5 inches long, their small size makes them comparable to shrimp. 2. They look like cartoon characters

Why are mantis shrimp called Mantis?

The mantis shrimp actually get their name because they kill prey similar to praying mantis ( Mantis religiosa ). Both animals use their folded forelimbs as weapons to attack. However, the mantis shrimp definitely packs a more powerful punch. Their forelimbs also come from the sides of their mouths. 8. They see a wide range of colors