Fast Facts: Peacock Mantis Shrimp

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Once again not something you'd find at your local buffet. Unless you live in Japan. 

The Peacock Mantis Shrimp: Odontodactylus scyllarus

Description: There are over 450 species of Mantis Shrimp in the world; the Peacock Mantis Shrimp is one of the largest and most colorful amongst these hundreds of different species. All members of this species have three pairs of legs to hold prey and another three pairs to walk. Other main features include two claws, 360 degree seeing eyes, and colorful body armor.  However, males are often larger and more vibrant than females; this species' signature peacock coloration is a sexually dimorphic trait. Additionally, sizes of the Peacock Mantis Shrimp range from two to seven inches with females occupying the lower end of this size spectrum. 

Habitat: The Peacock Mantis Shrimp is the most common species of Mantis Shrimp found in the Great Barrier Reef. These Mantis Shrimp are commonly found in the Indo-Pacific region, at depths of anywhere from three to 40 meters, where they build u-shaped burrows in the sand. 

Diet: Using its claws to release a powerful punch, the Peacock Mantis Shrimp can stun or kill its main prey, mollusks and other crustaceans in under a second. This skill allows the Peacock Mantis Shrimp to fight and win against larger species, such as the crab, one of the Peacock Mantis Shrimp's favorite prey. 

Behavior: Widely known to be aggressive towards practically all other individuals regardless of species, the Peacock Mantis Shrimp is largely solitary with the exception of mating. Although these are popular pets in aquariums, almost no other fish or crustaceans can be placed with this species. Using vibrations and flashing its bright coloration, the Peacock Mantis Shrimp can communicate warnings and territorial signals towards others. Additionally, most of the Peacock Mantis Shrimp's hunting is done during the day although it may be active during both day and night. 

Conservation Status: Considered to be Least Concern, the Peacock Mantis Shrimp population hasn't been evaluated by ICUN and has high numbers in its wide distribution range around the world. 

Unique Traits: The Peacock Mantis Shrimp is known for its lightning-fast punch that allows it to both capture prey and defend itself against predators. In three milliseconds, this species can release a punch that is strong enough to break glass; these punches can reach speeds of up to 50 mph. Recently, researchers have found that a single punch from a Peacock Mantis Shrimp can even boil water. 

Additionally, as said above, the Peacock Mantis Shrimp has two eyes that each have three focal points and can individually rotate. Along with 12 to 16 photoreceptors, these traits allow this creature to see 10 times more color than humans can! 



https://www.pinterest.com/pin/526991593869761608/

https://www.seafishpool.com/peacock-mantis-shrimp/

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/peacockmantisshrimp#:~:text=Peacock%20mantis%20shrimp%20mostly%20live%20in%20shallow%20parts,time%20looking%20for%20crabs%20and%20mollusks%20to%20eat.

https://kaziranga.org/peacock-mantis-shrimp/

https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/animal/peacock-mantis-shrimp/#:~:text=Diet%20%2F%20Feeding%201%20Diurnal%2C%20opportunistic%20feeder.%202,appendages%20may%20take%20as%20few%20as%20three%20milliseconds.

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