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Odontodactylus scyllarus
Also known as Smashing Mantis Shrimp, Odontodactylid Reef Mantis Shrimp, Green Mantis Shrimp, Clown Mantis Shrimp, Mantis Clown, Rainbow Mantis Shrimp, Harlequin Mantis Shrimp and Painted Mantis Shrimp. Males brighter than females, juveniles yellow. They feed on fish and invertebrates.
Found close to reefs in sand and rubble areas with several burrows to hide in. Widespread in the Indo-Pacific region.
This mantis shrimp was cornered, and that's why it reared up to appear menacing to us. Or maybe it was just curious about us...
Spotted on Oct 10, 2011
Submitted on Dec 2, 2011
11 Comments
Thanks, matimar1. Where I live, the mantis shrimp isn't really rare. :)
Isn't it an alien or maybe a transformer?
Love the color!....I saw on a show these guys pack a mean pinch and they are one of the worlds fastest animals when catching prey.
Very bizarre
cool
Very cool and alien looking!
It's life Jim but not as we know it !
Very Nice!
Soo nice color and funny eyes.. good shot.
Thanks, Carolina. Indeed, they're certainly very attractive.
I have a full-body shot of a pair of such shrimp...but I'm loathe to share it here because I took that photo of the shrimp caught in a fishing net. :(
AWESOME!