A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Odontodactylus scyllarus
O. scyllarus is one of the larger, more colorful mantis shrimps commonly seen, ranging in size from 3 to 18 centimetres (1.2 to 7.1 in). They are primarily green in color, with orange legs and leopard-like spots on the anterior carapace. Their ability to see circularly polarized light has led to studies to determine if the mechanisms by which their eyes operate can be replicated for use in reading CDs and similar optical information storage devices. This mantis shrimp is a smasher, with club shaped raptorial appendages. An active hunter, it prefers gastropods, crustaceans, and bivalves, and will repeatedly smash its prey until it can gain access to the soft tissue for consumption. It is reported to have a "punch" of over 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). This is the fastest recorded punch of any living animal. The acceleration is that of a .22 caliber handgun, with a force created of 200 pounds per strike. In addition, the surface of its appendages is made up of extremely dense hydroxyapatite, layered in a manner which is highly resistant to fracturing. Glass aquaria can be broken by them. The composition is being investigated for potential synthesis and engineering use.
Is a large mantis shrimp native to the Indo-Pacific from Guam to East Africa. Popular in aquaria.
Spotted on Oct 4, 2012
Submitted on Nov 2, 2012
3 Comments
Many thanks! Mantis shrimps are very appreciated to be spotted during a dive. They are very beautiful but they run away fast too!
Nice series Marta!
Very beautiful series Marta.