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Journalism of Courage
The ocean is home to wonders of form, function, and survival. These creatures defy our expectations with their strength, sight, and strategies. Among them, the mantis shrimp stands out as a marvel of evolution: a small but formidable crustacean that wields lightning-fast strikes, sees with extraordinary precision, and inspires scientists with its ingenious design.
Mantis shrimp belong not to the shrimp family but to the ancient group of crustaceans called stomatopods, which split from other Malacostraca more than 400 million years ago. Today, scientists recognise over 500 species worldwide, many inhabiting burrows in tropical and subtropical reefs, according to the National Geographic.
These colourful invertebrates range from under an inch to nearly a foot long. One well-known species, the peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus), typically reaches 10–18 cm and impresses with neon blues, fiery reds, and greens, camouflaging amid coral and serving as a warning to others. They build and defend burrows, doubling as shelter and ambush stations.
Mantis shrimp of the “smasher” category strike with a club-like appendage that unleashes blows comparable in speed to a .22-caliber bullet—around 23 m/s (50 mph), as per the National Geographic.
Equipped with a “saddle”-shaped spring that stores elastic energy, plus a latch mechanism, they generate accelerations up to 10,000 g—captured in super‑slow‑motion footage.
On impact, their strike creates cavitation bubbles, microscopic vapor pockets that collapse, producing shockwaves and even flashes of light, amplifying the destructive force. This combo enables the shrimp to shatter the shells of prey and even aquarium glass.
The mantis shrimp’s club is a layered marvel. Its outermost layer, rich in crystalline hydroxyapatite, is extremely dense and resists damage. Beneath it, gradations of minerals and polymers absorb shock and protect the structure from fracturing under repeated blows.
Their eyes may be the most complex in the animal kingdom. Each eye moves independently and offers trinocular vision. They perceive 12 to 16 types of photoreceptors, including ultraviolet, infrared, and polarized (even circularly polarized) light, which are sensitive to signals that human eyes cannot detect.
Such advanced vision may aid in hunting, navigating complex reef environments, communicating subtly, or detecting prey and rivals.
Research using a robotic proxy called “Ninjabot” revealed that mantis shrimp vary their strike strategy when hunting snails, targeting the snail’s opening or tip depending on shell shape, WIRED reported. This shows behavioural sophistication beyond brute force.
Engineers have replicated aspects of the mantis shrimp’s punch mechanics using synthetic saddle structures and bio-inspired materials with Bouligand layering and ceramic-polymer bilayers. These designs promise applications in body armor, aerospace, robotics, and self-healing materials.
