Latin Name: Odontodactylus scyllarus
Location: Indian and Pacific Oceans
Size: 20cm
Fun Fact: They can punch through aquarium glass
Appearance
The peacock mantis shrimp is always a great find on a dive. Its bright colours make it easier to spot among the sand and corals. The peacock mantis shrimp gets its name from its tail, which has similar colouring to a peacock’s feathers, with its main body being green. It holds its claws under its body in the same way a praying mantis does – hence the name Mantis Shrimp.
Two Types of Mantis Shrimp
There are two different types of mantis shrimps: spearers and punchers. Spearers are opportunists; they like to sit in their hole with their heads in line with the sand, making them well camouflaged. When a fish swims by that the shrimp likes the taste of, it quickly moves its upper body out of the hole and uses its claws to grab the prey and bring it back into the hole for supper time.
Punchers work differently. Their claws are used for punching rather than grabbing. They approach their prey and use their claws in a manner similar to a boxer. They have one of the hardest punches in the world – that’s why these creatures don’t do well inside aquarium tanks. Their punch is powerful enough to kill prey instantly. What happens if they miss? Even if they don’t hit their target, the water around them boils from the impact of the punch, potentially boiling their dinner alive.
Both types of mantis shrimp mainly feed on small fish and other crustaceans, but they can also kill prey larger than themselves.
Eyesight
These small invertebrates dig themselves a tunnel with a hole at each end, an entrance and exit in a U shape. Mantis shrimp are usually shy creatures and won’t stray far from their home. When spotted in the open, they often quickly retreat to their hole, showcasing their impressive speed. Once inside their hole, they turn around to observe their surroundings. This is when their remarkable eyes can be seen. Positioned on top of their head, their eyes can move independently in different directions. The peacock mantis shrimp has the best eyesight in the animal kingdom; while humans see with 3 receptors, they see with 12! They can perceive UV, infrared, and more, giving them a significant advantage in hunting.
Reproduction
The main reasons for mantis shrimp to leave their tunnel are to hunt and mate. The male performs a dance, and if the female is impressed, she joins in. They then return to her tunnel to internally fertilise her eggs. The male leaves the tunnel, and she lays the eggs, holding them at the front of her body between her appendages. She protects and keeps the eggs clean until they hatch, usually after 30-60 days. Some peacock mantis shrimp mate for life.
Liars
Despite its name, the peacock mantis shrimp is not a shrimp. It is a stomatopod, a type of crustacean with abdominal appendages and claws resembling those of a praying mantis.
