Beneath Blue: Species Spotlight #5

The Mantis Shrimp — Tiny, Colourful, and Surprisingly Powerful

Welcome back guys! Today’s species might look small and colourful, but the mantis shrimp is honestly one of the wildest animals in the ocean.

Photo by William Warby on Unsplash

Despite its name, the mantis shrimp isn’t actually a shrimp at all. It belongs to a group of marine crustaceans called Stomatopoda and is usually found in tropical and subtropical waters, especially around coral reefs. Most species are only around 10–18 centimetres long and weigh very little, but what they lack in size, they absolutely make up for in power.

Photo by Amber Wolfe on Unsplash — mantis shrimp on coral reef

Mantis shrimp are best known for their incredibly fast strikes. Some species, called “smashers”, can punch with speeds comparable to a bullet, generating enough force to crack shells, break crab exoskeletons, and even shatter aquarium glass. Their punches are so fast that they briefly create tiny bubbles in the water that collapse with a burst of heat and light — a process called cavitation.

https://youtu.be/E0Li1k5hGBE?si=9MESUYbLDXYckBuW — watch this video to see a peacock mantis shrimp in action!

Other species, known as “spearers”, use sharp, spiny limbs to stab soft-bodied prey instead. Either way, mantis shrimp are highly skilled hunters despite their small size.

https://youtu.be/E_mbnXJh2Dk?si=1QxE7unE-hWIrR_8 — watch this video to see a “spearer” species in action!

But their vision might be even more impressive than their punch. Humans have three types of colour receptors in our eyes, while mantis shrimp can have up to sixteen. Scientists believe they can detect ultraviolet light and types of polarised light invisible to humans. Their eyes also move independently, giving them an incredibly advanced view of their surroundings.

eyes of a mantis shrimp

Most mantis shrimp live for around 3–6 years and spend much of their time hidden in burrows within reefs or sandy seabeds. They are generally solitary and surprisingly territorial for such small animals.

What makes the mantis shrimp so fascinating is how extreme it is in every way. It’s tiny, but unbelievably powerful. It’s brightly coloured, yet a highly effective predator. And despite being relatively small and often overlooked, it has one of the most advanced visual systems in the animal kingdom.

Photo by Nichika Sakurai on Unsplash

Honestly, the ocean really does seem to specialise in creating creatures that sound completely unreal.