A burrowing crustacean with the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom and the fastest punch in nature — striking with the acceleration of a fired bullet. Mantis shrimp can crack aquarium glass.

Also called: Mantis Shrimp

Native status: Native to Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, southern Atlantic US coast

§ Quick facts

SizeLength 15–25 cm (6–10 in)
Weight40–110 g
LifespanWild 5–10 years
OrderStomatopoda
FamilySquillidae

§ Encyclopedia

Mantis shrimp are carnivorous marine crustaceans of the order Stomatopoda. Stomatopods branched off from other members of the class Malacostraca around 400 million years ago, with more than 520 extant species of mantis shrimp known. All living species are in the suborder Unipeltata, which arose around 250 million years ago. They are among the most important predators in many shallow, tropical and subtropical marine habitats. Despite being common in their habitats, they are poorly understood, as many species spend most of their lives sheltering in burrows and holes.

Source: Wikipedia — Mantis shrimp Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Long mantis-shaped crustacean with raised abdomen; powerful raptorial appendages folded under head; compound eyes on independent stalks.

Similar species. Other mantis shrimp species (Smasher types have club-shaped raptorial claws). True shrimp (no raptorial claws).

Voice. Some species produce low-frequency "rumbles" during territorial disputes.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Fish, shrimp, crabs, snails, octopuses — captured with lightning-fast spearing strike of the raptorial claws.

Behavior. Burrow-dwelling ambush predator of coastal Caribbean and southern US waters. The "spearer" type of mantis shrimp uses pointed raptorial claws to skewer soft-bodied prey; the related "smasher" types use clubs to break the shells of harder prey. Mantis shrimp strikes are among the fastest movements in the animal kingdom (accelerations of ~10,000 g, peak velocities 23 m/s underwater), with shock waves powerful enough to crack aquarium glass and stun prey even when missed. Compound eyes contain 16 photoreceptor types — the most complex visual system known in animals.

§ Range

Atlantic coast from Cape Cod to Brazil

§ Habitat

Soft-bottom intertidal and shallow subtidal

§ Threats

Coastal habitat loss, trawling damage to soft-bottom communities, pollution.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the mantis shrimp (caribbean) is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Support clean coasts. Buy sustainable seafood. Don't handle in tidepools.

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§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Caldwell & Dingle mantis shrimp biology
  • National Geographic
  • UC Berkeley Patek Lab striking biomechanics