Impurest's Guide to Animals #30 - Peacock Mantis Shrimp

“There comes a moment in every ecologist’s life when we see what they are made of, to see how they perform under literal fire” - Me, like twenty seconds ago when looking for a way to open this.

Turns out as sure as this is Issue #30, that when shot at I cowardly drive away, oh the shame. Maybe last weeks animal, the Yellow Tailed Scorpion would have done the same but this weeks animal, chosen by @darthaznable has a bullet infused punch and a pugnacious attitude to match

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Issue #30 Peacock Mantis Shrimp

Kingdom – Animalia

Phylum – Arthropoda

Class – Malacastraca

Order – Stomatopoda

Family – Odontodactylidae

Genus – Odontodactylus

Species – scyllarus

Related Species - Despite being known as a ‘shrimp’ the Peacock Mantis Shrimp is part of an unrelated family known as the Stomatopods(1)

Range - The Peacock Mantis Shrimp can be found from off the coast of Indonesia and Guam to the Eastern shores of tropical and subtropical Africa.

Eyes of a Rainbow, Fist of a Bullet

The Peacock Mantis Shrimp is one of the larger stomatopods, growing from 3 to 18cm in length and possessing a bright green carapace decorated with black leopard like spots along the flanks, and orange legs. The most obvious feature of any stomatopods is the eyes, which are some of the most advanced in the animal kingdom. Mounted on turrets, the eye is split into two large hemispheres with a thin strip down the meridian, giving the mantis shrimp ‘trinocular’ vision to aid in hunting. Along the eye are six strips of photoreceptors which allow it to see polarised light, as well as filter different wave lengths of light, across the UV and Visual range of the electromagnetic spectrum (2).

Its good eyesight helps the Peacock Mantis Shrimp when hunting, especially when it targets fast moving prey. Once locked on the Peacock Mantis Shrimp lashes out with a pair of barbed club like appendages at lightning fast speeds (23m/s from a standing start with an acceleration of over 10,000g) and hits the prey with a force of around 1000 newtons. If for some reason the Mantis Shrimp misses it needn’t punch tight, the acceleration of its strike creates a super-cavitation bubble of air that explodes when released, often stunning or even killing the prey (3).

The Peacock Mantis Shrimp, like other stomatopods, is highly territorial and will defend its home burrow from intruders. When meeting a rival mantis shrimp, the owner of the burrow fluoresces in attempt to deter the intruder, but if evenly matched will engage in ritualised fighting. Stomatopods who regularly engage each other will remember their neighbours from their scent and visual signs when they meet.

Five Fun Peacock Mantis Shrimp Facts

If one type of Mantis Shrimp wasn’t bad enough, a second type, with a spear like raptorial limb exists. Like their club clawed relatives they also create a super cavitation bubble when striking.

While all stomatopods have good vision the Peacock Mantis Shrimp takes it even further. It is one (of two) species that can see circular polarised light, that aids in targeting.

The bubble created by the strike can become so hot on detonation that is produces sonoluminescence. The unrelated Pistol Shrimps (Family - Alpheidae) also creates this effect when snapping its claws

The combination of good eyesight and deadly strikes make the Peacock Mantis Shrimp unsuitable for keeping in aquariums. The species regularly attacks its reflection and can crack glass with a single strike.

Despite the ferocity of their attacks the clubs of the Peacock Mantis Shrimp never shatter thanks to an organic ceramic called Hydroxyapatite. Scientists are currently trying to create a synthetic version to create stronger mining equipment and vehicle armour(4)

Bibliography

1 - www.arkive.org

2 - David Cowles, Jaclyn R. Van Dolson, Lisa R. Hainey & Dallas M. Dick (2006). "The use of different eye regions in the mantis shrimp Hemisquilla californiensis Stephenson, 1967 (Crustacea: Stomatopoda) for detecting objects". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology330 (2): 528–534

3 - S. N. Patek & R. L. Caldwell (2005). "Extreme impact and cavitation forces of a biological hammer: strike forces of the peacock mantis shrimp". Journal of Experimental Biology208(19): 3655–3664

4 - Sarah Everts (2012). "How a peacock shrimp packs a punch: layered structure is behind animal's resilient club". Chemical & Engineering News90

Picture References

1 - http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--CO9FUnTquE/T7nvf52gH7I/AAAAAAAACHI/XI70HwdxIFc/s1600/ishot-1205202343421.jpg

2 - http://www.chicagonow.com/greenamajigger/files/2013/04/tumblr_l8rt66nw331qzs4d0o1_500.jpg

3 - http://pix.avaxnews.com/avaxnews/f2/b1/0000b1f2_medium.jpeg

And that is the pure power behind the Peacock Mantis Shrimp. Next issue we get all abuzz about the selection of @dboyrules2011, but until then remember to comment, drop a suggestion of a creature to cover and check out the Bestiary of Past Issues

Many Thanks

Impurest Cheese

Out of curiosity, what order do Shrimps belong to?

@cbishop, @darthaznable, @laflux, @ostyo, @wildvine, @samimista, @xwraith, @bruxae, @cgoodness, @ms-lola, @knightsofdarkness2, @scorpion2501, @squares, @scattered316, @dboyrules2011, @wolverine08, @joshuadbr and @nighthunder

KO, Fatality ect

@laflux: All true shrimps are Decapods (Order - Decapoda) with the shrimps then split into two suborders; Pleocytema and Dendrobranchista (Also Prawns). That said a lot of non decapod crustaceans are called 'shrimps' as well

@impurestcheese: cheers

Nice! Can you do one for the "Nudibranch" animal for the next one. :D

Whoa! They're soooo powerful!

@knightsofdarkness2: Issue 32 was a marine gastropod, so the answer is yes

@laflux: You're welcome

I think I've read somewhere one of these was found over a foot long

@dboyrules2011: Tasty too. That said they can crack a human thumb so also deadly to catch

@cgoodness: Yes the biggest stomatopods can get over a foot long

Really nice stuff Impurest!

@wolverine08: Thanks:-)

@impurestcheese: You ate these before? Hehe! Ooh.

@dboyrules2011: Not this particular species but yes, when I was living in Cairns. Tastes like Lobster

@impurestcheese:

This vs the nightmare worm to the death.

@wildvine: Ah yes the Bobbit Worm, that reminds me, need to do a nasty worm isssue soon.

As for the fight...that's a tough one

@impurestcheese: Oh. ^_^

@dboyrules2011: ???

@nighthunder: Not yet although the Maned Wolf is on my list (can't do it to close to the Seriema though). Again check out the library link for past issues

@impurestcheese: Sorry. I was suppose to say something else.

He is so cute

@impurestcheese: It can crack glass? Insane! That supercavitation bubble/ sonoluminescence thing is pretty frickin' cool too.

@veitha: Hi, long time no see. Glad you enjoyed this. :-)

@cbishop: Yep, the Peacock Mantis Shrimp is a skilled aquarium buster.

@dboyrules2011: LOL

@impurestcheese:

Its kinda pretty though. And explosive bubbles (do I have that right?) are pretty cool.

@impurestcheese: Squeeeeeee. Thank you so much for doing this one. Do you know what the holes in its eye are?

@impurestcheese: Wait, are you afraid of that thing? Lame!

Wow, it's beautiful.

I've always wondered about whether their club thingies break over time- I assumed the shrimp shed it's shell every now and again and just, like, got a new one. Now I know different.

@darthaznable: You're welcome. As for the holes...those are polarised light detecting relays

@squares: It's a bit of both really

@ostyo: What gave you that idea?

I don't get it! Is it a peacock or a mantis or a shrimp!?

The naming conventions are so weird. Like, is there a lemur eagle snail too? Lol

@impurestcheese: Because you acted weird and afraid while describing it? Lol Where is the Big Red who jumps into the ocean and punches Tiger Sharks into submission?!

@impurestcheese: so weird that its 3 on one side and 1 on the other

@jaken7: Colours of a Peacock, Weapons of a Mantis, Body of a Shrimp despite being neither. Not so weird really

@ostyo: Oh that's in relation to the 9mm round shot into my car whilst at work

@darthaznable: Yeah the light pits can be moved across the surface of the eye, the other two are there just not in the shot

Cool rainbow shrimp! I am suprised I hadn't heard of this thing before.

do you think this is a mantis shrimp? ive read that is what it is being hypothesized to be

@impurestcheese: I've learned about these before. They are pretty awesome animals. I'm slightly more fascinated with the pistol shrimp though. If you could do an article on the pistol shrimp that would be awesome.

@impurestcheese: Wait, stop...rewind. You better explain that better.

O___O Wicked with its colors!

Nature is incredible.

@bruxae: Yep the Mantis Shrimp is certainly very cool

@cgoodness: There is certainly Stomatopod like features on display, but without a closer look at the eyes and front limbs I can't be certain

@joshuadbr: That animal seems very popular at the moment...

@ostyo: Somebody took a shot at me with a gun at work

@samimista: You'll like the next two issues then, tres colourful

@scorpion2501: Yep she totally is.

@impurestcheese: What?! Who the hell do they think they are shooting at my Red... *Hugs you* Don't worry, Ostyo is here now.

@impurestcheese: Someone shot at you? Darn, that's crazy! I don't know who wouldn't drive or run or whatever away. I hope you didn't get hit or anything.

On the subject of the pistol shrimp, do you have an only less popular animals rule? Or do you just prefer giving less popular animals some attention?

I'll just leave this here:

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/mantis_shrimp

@crom-cruach: Thanks that link is hilariously accurate and amazing

@ostyo: @joshuadbr: Thanks Guys

@impurestcheese: Well, after reading Crom Crunch's Mantis Shrimp link the answer seems pretty clear. Red, train yourself an attack Mantis shrimp for protection.

@ostyo: No need client has hired extra security

@impurestcheese: That's good to hear. Thought I was gonna have to go all Kung Fu on some punks. Lol

@ostyo: Yep, have other problems anyhow, like how I could be a foreign national in my own country of birth by the end of the week

Just gorgeous. I have a hard time envisioning shrimp larger than the size of my palm, let alone one with spectacular colouring!

Also, a wee bit worried there with the bullet and your car and all that. I am going to be waiting for these weekly articles more anxiously now. Please be careful.

@ms_lola: Worry not about me, just had the abscess on my leg lanced and now feel great