Peacock mantis shrimp
Odontodactylus scyllarus
- Not on exhibit
- Animal type
- Invertebrates
- Ecosystem
- Coral reefs
- Relatives
- Shrimp and lobsters
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Range
- Warm waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans
- Size
- From 1 to 7 inches
Meet the peacock mantis shrimp
A small but mighty marvel of the ocean wields devastating blows that pulverize prey with lightning speed. Its vibrant, iridescent colors and elegant form cloaks its powerful nature, embodying the enigma of being both beautiful and deadly under the sea.
Cool facts
- The mantis shrimp was once believed to detect a broader spectrum of colors and have some of the most sophisticated eyes on Earth. Recent science has debunked this notion, revealing its ability to discriminate among colors is very low.
- It has lightning-fast strikes that can reach speeds comparable to a .22 caliber bullet.
- There are around 450 species of mantis shrimp worldwide—the most well-known being the peacock mantis shrimp because of its large size and bright colors.
- Though common, the mantis shrimp remains enigmatic due to its solitary and territorial nature, often hiding in rocks and burrowing in the seabed. In 2001, one such creature, known as Sparky, snuck into the Aquarium in a coral rock, hiding from aquarists. Confusing aquarists with a steady loss of cohabitants, it captivated audiences worldwide with its sensationalized story.
- We discovered a few smaller mantis shrimp that hitchhiked in some rocks in the Viva Baja exhibit. We heard them before we saw them—you could hear their smashing of rocks as they constructed burrows while standing in front of the exhibits, even though they were only about 2 inches long.
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