The Mantis Shrimp, also known as ‘Stomatopod,’ is a small but aggressive marine creature found in warm waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from Eastern Africa to Hawaii.
These creatures are colorful and stunning to look at, but they’re also dangerous predators. They can either strike their prey with a force comparable to a bullet or stab them with their sharp claws.
Mantis shrimps belong to the Stomatopoda order and the Crustacea group, which includes other hard-shelled animals like crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and more.
Mantis Shrimp Classification
| Taxonomic Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Euarthropoda |
| Subphylum | Crustacea |
| Class | Malacostraca |
| Subclass | Hoplocarida |
| Order | Stomatopoda |
The mantis shrimp is known for its powerful punch and is sometimes called the ‘thumb splitter’ because it can cause painful cuts if handled carelessly by humans.
There are about 450 different kinds of mantis shrimp around the world, and they come in various colors from brown to bright green, red, and blue. The most famous type is the Peacock mantis shrimp, which is large and colorful.
They usually grow to about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long, but some can be as big as 46 centimeters (18 inches). Their shell covers only the back part of their head and the first few segments of their body.
Mantis shrimp are solitary and territorial, spending most of their time hiding in rocks or burrowing in the seabed. They often live in U-shaped burrows near coral reefs and can be active during the day or at night, depending on the species.
These shrimps are aggressive hunters and eat fish, crabs, clams, snails, worms, shrimp, and squid. They can even catch prey much larger than themselves because of their strong punch.
Despite their hunting prowess, mantis shrimp are not considered threatened or endangered by conservation organizations.
What exactly are mantis shrimp?
Mantis shrimp are not true shrimp but are related to crabs and lobsters. They have been around for more than 400 million years and there are over 400 different species of them.
Peacock mantis shrimp, also known as harlequin or painted mantis shrimp, are the most well-known. They have colorful shells, like a peacock’s tail, and their arms look like those of a praying mantis. These creatures are solitary and aggressive, known for their extremely fast and powerful punch, which can snap a crab’s claw.
Where do mantis shrimp live and what do they look like?
Mantis shrimp live in warm, shallow waters in the Indian and Pacific oceans. They make their homes by digging burrows on the seabed near coral reefs, using their front arms.
Peacock mantis shrimp, about the size of a butter knife, have colorful shells in shades of blue, green, and yellow, with red legs. Their eyes, perched on stalks, can move independently. Other mantis shrimp species, like the Zebra and Red Sea mantis shrimp, have different colors and patterns.
Regardless of their appearance, all mantis shrimp are known for their strong front claws, which they use for hunting.
Mantis Shrimp Hunting and Punching
Mantis shrimp are remarkable predators despite their small size, capable of taking down prey larger than themselves. There are two main hunting styles among mantis shrimp species: “Spearers” wait for an opportunity to skewer fish with a spike on their arms, while “smashers” like the peacock mantis shrimp use hammer-like claws to attack hard-shelled prey such as crabs and clams.
But how does their punch work? When not in use, the shrimp’s clubbed arm is locked in place, allowing energy to build up. A spring inside the arm stores even more energy. When released, the spring propels the claw forward in a fraction of a second—50 times faster than a blink of an eye—to strike their prey. This strike, at 75 feet per second, is one of the fastest limb movements of any animal.
Surprisingly, the mantis shrimp itself is unharmed by the strike, thanks to layers within its claw that absorb the impact. This design has inspired the development of materials for armor, sports helmets, and vehicles.
Mantis shrimp also use this punching technique for defense against predators. However, they resort to violence only when necessary. When threatened, they first display a behavioral warning called a “meral spread”: standing tall, puffing up their chest, and spreading their arms to appear larger and more intimidating. If this doesn’t deter the predator, the shrimp will attack.
Sea Mantis Facts
- Mantis shrimp come in two types: “spearers” and “smashers.” Spearers use spiky claws to stab soft prey, while smashers have club-like claws to crush harder prey.
- Smashers can punch as fast as a gunshot from a .22 caliber rifle. Their spring-loaded claws accelerate at over 50 mph, delivering a force over 2.5k times their body weight, enough to smash crab and clam shells.
- Their punch creates super-heated bubbles and intense shockwaves, stunning or killing prey instantly, even if they miss.
- They can crack aquarium glass and attack their own reflection.
- Their claws have a shock-absorbent core to prevent breakage, inspiring materials for armor and vehicles.
- Mantis shrimps are not shrimp or related to praying mantises. They belong to the Stomatopoda order.
- They have enlarged arms like mantises, used for catching prey.
- Their eyes can move independently and see circularly polarized light, unique in the animal kingdom.
- They have the most complex eyes and visual system known, similar to DVD player technology.
- Mantis shrimps have more color receptors than humans but may not see color as well.
- They can detect cancer cells with their eyes, inspiring new medical imaging technology.
- Mantis shrimps have been around for 400 million years, older than dinosaurs.
- Some species are monogamous and live together for up to 20 years, caring for their eggs.
- Mantis shrimps are eaten in various cuisines and taste like lobster when cooked.
The strike is so powerful that it creates bubbles in the water, which then collapse, generating a force thousands of times the shrimp’s bodyweight. This force, combined with the initial strike, breaks open the shell of the prey, killing it.
