20+ Interesting Facts About Mantis Shrimp

1. Mantis shrimp are marine crustaceans that primarily reside in the warm, shallow waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. However, some species may live in sub-Antarctic waters. 
2. The name "mantis shrimp" is a misnomer, as it is neither a shrimp nor a praying mantis. This name is due to the mantis shrimp's resemblance to both these animals. The mantis shrimp is a stomatopod, whose closest living relatives are crabs, lobsters, and true shrimp.
3. There are over 400 known mantis shrimp species. The size of these species varies, ranging from tiny animals of nearly 2.5 cm (1 inch) in length to zebra mantis shrimp reaching around 38 cm (15 inches).

   

   Zebra mantis shrimp are the largest among mantis shrimp

   
   
4. Mantis shrimp are divided into two groups depending on their hunting techniques. The “smashers” use their club-like front legs to smash hard shells of their prey. The “spearers”, on the other hand, have spiny claws to kill soft-bodied animals.
5. Peacock mantis shrimp, belonging to the “smashers” group, have the most powerful punch and the strongest strike of any animal. They can strike their club-like front legs at 23 m/sec that can shatter the shells of larger animals and break thin aquarium glass. The force of this blow is 100 times the body weight of mantis shrimp. (Source)
6. The peacock Mantis shrimp’s smash is 50 times faster than the blink of an eye or equal to a 0.22 caliber bullet. This powerful and rapid strike generates extremely hot  (nearly 4,000 C) vapour-filled bubbles and a shock wave that may kill its prey even if the mantis shrimp misses its target. Mantis shrimp protects its own clubs despite multiple powerful strikes due to protective chitin fiber in its legs and most of the body. Researchers are trying to copy their structure to improve body armor, cars, and helmets. (Source)
7. Mantis shrimp have up to 16 photoreceptors in their compound eyes, the highest in the animal kingdom. Twelve of these receptors are for color vision (from deep ultraviolet to red), while the remaining four detect polarized light. Comparatively, the eyes in most other animals have two to four color receptors. The large numbers of photoreceptors enable mantis shrimp to see a wide range of colors. Moreover, they can also perceive these colors quickly, thus recognizing their prey and predators efficiently. All these features make them the most complex eyes among animals. (Source)
8. Mantis shrimp are the only animals with circular polarization vision, which assists in detecting light waves that rotate in a circular motion. These animals also know the spinning direction of circularly polarized light (CPL). Mantis shrimp use this unique feature to see the ocean in higher contrast. Octopuses, cuttlefish, and squid can view linearly polarized light, but they can’t detect circularly polarized light. Therefore, mantis shrimp use this ability as a secret communication channel to avoid these predators. (Source)
9. Mantis shrimp have the most mobile eyes among animals that move almost constantly. Most other animals need to keep their eyes still to avoid blur, but mantis shrimp don’t face this issue. Mantis shrimp can rotate both eyes independently in three directions: up-down, side-to-side, and roll. These animals stabilize their eyes during side-to-side movement to keep their gaze steady, but they still roll their eyes. Unlike other animals, mantis shrimp can maintain their gaze on a moving object even if they roll their eyes quickly. Humans suffer from severe vertigo if the world starts to roll around them. However, a similar condition doesn’t produce any negative impact on mantis shrimp. (Source)
10. Mantis shrimp can use both their eyes together or independently. Even when the eyes move independently, each eye can produce depth perception without assistance from the other eye. This feature is not present in humans and many other animals, as they need both eyes in the same direction for focus and depth perception. 
11. Scientists have developed an imaging system that distinguishes between cancerous and healthy cells during surgery. The six-color imaging platform is based on the eyes of mantis shrimp. In traditional malignant cancer surgeries, surgeons usually miss 25% to 40% of cancer cells, which results in relapse of the disease. However, this modern camera, which mimics the eyes of the mantis shrimp, can separate almost all cancerous cells from healthy tissues. This technology can improve the efficiency of cancer surgery and prevent its relapse. (Source)
12. Despite having exceptional eyes, mantis shrimp don’t have perfect color vision. Research proves that large numbers of photoreceptors enable mantis shrimp to distinguish between many colors quickly. However, they can’t perceive these colors in such detail as some other animals, such as honeybees and butterflies, can. This is because their eyes can only discriminate between colors with a 15-25 nanometer difference. Comparatively, humans can differentiate colors with a 5-nanometer difference. Unlike other animals, mantis shrimp’s eyes work like satellites. (Source)
13. Researchers have invented a mantis shrimp-inspired optical sensor that combines color vision and polarization. The SIMPOL (Stomatopod Inspired Multispectral and POLarization) is ten times more precise than traditional sensors. It is therefore a helpful device for scientific image analysis. (Source)
14. The hunting technique and prey of smashers and spearers differ depending on their hunting mode. Smashers prefer consuming animals with hard shells, such as crabs, clams, and oysters. Spearers choose soft-bodied animals as their food, including fish, marine worms, and shrimp. Smashers actively search for their prey, while spearers are ambush predators that wait for their prey inside burrows. 
15. Despite their small size, mantis shrimp have few large predators due to their aggressive nature and powerful defense. Large fish (tuna, grouper, and shark), octopuses, and seabirds are the primary predators of these fierce animals. 
16. Like other crustaceans, mantis shrimp remove their old exoskeleton and replace it with a new one through molting. The process continues for days, during which the animal remains defenseless and can’t strike. Therefore, it remains hidden inside the burrow during this period. 
17. Male mantis shrimp attract females with secret polarized lights on their antennae. If the female likes the display, then both join in a courtship dance. Most mantis shrimp species mate with different partners, while some have monogamous relations for life. Female mantis shrimp may lay thousands of eggs in a single clutch. In some species, the female guards these eggs, while the male brings food. 
18. Mantis shrimp protect their reefs aggressively and hunt various types of animals. These actions provide several benefits to their environment. They help control populations of animals that eat coral structure, such as sea snails. Mantis shrimp also act as bioindicators because they are sensitive to pollutants, such as cadmium.
19. Mantis shrimp build burrows in coral rubble as homes using their powerful limbs. They prefer U-shaped or L-shaped tunnels that are equal to or slightly larger than their bodies. These tunnels can easily accommodate them and are easier to defend. Mantis shrimp may also fight to occupy an already built ideal burrow. These animals also defend their homes from intruders aggressively. 
20. Mantis shrimp are excellent navigators that find their homes using various methods. These animals use the sun, polarized light, and an internal compass to find the distance and direction of their homes. They first rely on external cues, but later move to internal cues if the initial process fails. (Source)
21. Mantis shrimp are eaten as a delicacy in several countries in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Mediterranean Europe. Their taste is between that of lobster and crab.