The Incredible Mantis Shrimp: Its Powerful Strike and Fascinating Traits

The mantis shrimp is far from ordinary. Contrary to its name, it isn’t a true shrimp but a stomatopod crustacean, only loosely related to shrimp. This small but formidable creature wields a devastating strike, capable of reaching speeds of 60 miles per hour (96 kilometers per hour). Its raptorial claws and powerful muscles can shatter aquarium glass or obliterate a crab in an instant. In self-defense, it can slice through a human finger in milliseconds, potentially causing severe injury or even amputation. Marine biologist Katie Watson advises maintaining a safe distance to avoid such encounters.

"Known as the thumb splitter, these creatures can inflict painful wounds if mishandled," Watson explains via email. "They can also damage fins or camera lenses, so it’s crucial to keep your distance. Remember the golden rule of diving: observe, but never touch."

The mantis shrimp's ferocity isn't solely due to its muscle power. This crustacean features a system of biological springs, latches, and levers that work together to execute its lightning-fast strikes. According to Watson, this mechanism enables the fastest limb movement in the animal kingdom.

Beyond its sheer strength, the mantis shrimp possesses a range of extraordinary traits. Here are seven astonishing facts about this remarkable and powerful creature.

1. Mantis Shrimp Eyes Are a Scientific Wonder

Like all crustaceans, the mantis shrimp has compound eyes. However, its visual system surpasses that of any other creature on Earth. With up to 16 photoreceptors, the ability to detect UV, visible, and polarized light, and the unique capacity to see circularly polarized light, the mantis shrimp's eyes are unparalleled. They perceive colors and images beyond the reach of any other animal, making our 20/20 vision seem ordinary in comparison.

2. They Have Their Own Communication Code

The mantis shrimp's advanced visual system plays a crucial role in its communication. These crustaceans can detect and manipulate polarized light, invisible to most other animals, allowing them to convey messages in what resembles a secret language. A 2016 study in Scientific Reports revealed that mantis shrimp polarizers modify light across a structure's surface, unlike traditional polarizers that work through depth. This unique ability helps them avoid predators and competitors, as most creatures cannot perceive this light. Scientists believe this discovery could revolutionize optical technologies, from cameras to sunglasses.

3. Mantis Shrimp Also "Speak" Through Rumbles

During dawn and dusk, mantis shrimp produce low-frequency rumbling sounds, including growls and grunts, to mark their territory and attract potential mates. Researchers explain that these sounds are generated by muscle vibrations and are detected by sensory hairs on other mantis shrimp. Interestingly, only males have been observed making these sounds, as females remain silent in studies conducted so far.

4. Their Colors Can Glow Like a Retro Lite Brite

Mantis shrimp display a stunning array of colors, ranging from earthy browns to vivid reds, blues, and greens. Certain species are even biofluorescent, enabling them to absorb blue light and re-emit it as a different hue. "Fluorescent colors travel more effectively underwater than pigmented ones," Watson explains. "This fluorescence makes the mantis shrimp appear larger, helping to attract mates and deter rivals." While this glow might also lure prey, Watson mentions that research to confirm this is still underway.

5. You'll Rarely See Mantis Shrimp at Aquariums

In 2001, two mantis shrimp managed to infiltrate the Monterey Bay Aquarium by hiding among imported rocks. The aftermath resembled a sci-fi movie: crabs, snails, and barnacles crucial to the aquarium's ecosystem and filtration systems began disappearing. However, capturing the mantis shrimp by hand was too risky for the staff. Instead, they used metal tongs to safely capture the intruders and placed them with another mantis shrimp caught the previous year.

Such incidents are not unusual when mantis shrimp find their way into aquariums. This is why they are seldom kept in captivity. When they are, aquariums must use shatterproof acrylic glass and ensure the tank is free of other creatures, given the mantis shrimp's destructive tendencies.

6. But You May Find Them in Tropical Waters

Spotting a mantis shrimp in the wild is no easy feat. These elusive creatures are masters of concealment, spending the majority of their time hidden within rocky or sandy burrows. They thrive in shallow tropical and subtropical waters, often inhabiting coral reefs or rock crevices. These environments serve as perfect hunting grounds. The mantis shrimp remains concealed until prey ventures close, then strikes with lightning speed, killing and consuming its target in mere seconds.

7. Mantis Shrimp Are Threatened by Climate Change

The warming of Earth's oceans poses a threat to nearly all marine life, including the mantis shrimp. "Calcified marine organisms, such as the mantis shrimp, face a dual challenge as climate change leads to warmer and more acidic oceans," Watson explains. "This is expected to cause higher energy demands, restricted growth, physiological stress, and altered mineralization. For mantis shrimp, maintaining the strength and precision of their specialized appendages requires a specific mineral composition and mechanical properties in their exoskeleton layers."

While some studies suggest mantis shrimp can withstand prolonged increases in temperature and acidity, the destruction of coral reefs and overfishing may still impact them. Like other reef inhabitants, they face habitat loss and a decline in both vertebrate and invertebrate diversity.