🌊 Ocean
Peacock Mantis Shrimp
Image: Wikipedia
Meet the Animal
Peacock mantis shrimp are arguably the most extraordinary animals in the ocean! They can punch with the speed of a bullet - fast enough to boil water around their fist and shatter crab shells in a single blow. Their eyes can see 16 different types of colour (humans see only 3), including ultraviolet and infrared light - making them see a world we cannot even imagine.
Where in the World
Continent: Ocean
Countries:
Habitat
Shallow tropical coral reef, Sandy seafloor, Rocky burrow
Diet
Carnivore
Classification
- ↳Kingdom:Animalia
- ↳Class:Malacostraca
- ↳Order:Stomatopoda
- ↳Family:Odontodactylidae
- ↳Common:Crustacean
Appearance
One of the most colourful animals on Earth - vivid red, orange, green, blue, and purple body. Distinctive compound eyes on stalks that can move independently. The 'dactyl clubs' (striking arms) are folded like a praying mantis.
Size: 0.04–0.18 kg; up to 38 cm long
Young Ones
Called Larva
Females brood eggs under their body in a burrow and fan them with water to oxygenate them. Some species are monogamous and male and female share parenting.
Behaviour
Strike with dactyl clubs at the speed of a bullet - 23 m/s. Strike force equivalent to a .22 calibre bullet from a human fist. Can see 16 types of colour (humans see 3). Punch through aquarium glass. Among the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom.
🎉 Fun Facts
👊 Their punch strikes at bullet speed - 23 metres per second.
🌈 They can see 16 types of colour - humans see only 3.
💥 A single strike can shatter crab shells and crack aquarium glass.
⚡ The strike is so fast it briefly boils the water around their club.
👁️ Their eyes can see ultraviolet and infrared light - invisible to humans.