Mantis Shrimp

These vivid scavangers are furious pursuers. Their front appendages pack a punch robust enough to break the glass of an aquarium. It is not shocking that this capacity is additionally utilized to catch prey.

Mantis shrimp are distant relatives of true shrimp, crabs, and lobsters. Their most famous feature is their second pair of limbs, which are enlarged into deadly attacking weapons. They can shoot out a sharp, jagged blade with a fistlike club,with lightning speed to attack prey. Different species can be classed as “smashers” or “spearers,” depending on which part of their weapon is best developed.


Varied Lifestyles
Mantis shrimp live exclusively in the sea. Most live in the tropics, although some are found in cooler regions. Mantis shrimp often sit at the entrances of burrows they have made, or in crevices in stones or coral. Some types wait to ambush prey, while others actively hunt for food. Although they usually crawl along the sea bottom, mantis shrimp can also swim.

Rival males sometimes fight, although they take good care to avoid being seriously injured. Males are very careful during courtship, since a blow from an unfriendly female could seriously injure them. After mating, the female looks after the eggs, keeping them in a safe place until they hatch. Young mantis shrimp swim in the plankton before settling down and starting their adult lives on the sea floor.