The colorful peacock mantis shrimp is the very definition of small but mighty they are typically only 2 to 7 inches long but in a matter of milliseconds a mantis shrimp can unfurl its appendages which fold underneath its body to deliver a devastating blow that pulverizes prey.
Peacock mantis shrimp matting.
Mating strategies in stomatopods vary from species to species.
Odontodactylus scyllarus known as the peacock mantis shrimp harlequin mantis shrimp painted mantis shrimp clown mantis shrimp or rainbow mantis shrimp is a large mantis shrimp native to the indo pacific from guam to east africa.
In the saltwater aquarium trade it is both prized for its attractiveness and considered by others to be a dangerous pest.
Furthermore some species of the mantis shrimp will mate for life caldwell and holthius 2008.
What makes peacock mantis shrimps really special is their club shaped attachment which is also called a smasher while the peacock mantis shrimp s smasher can be compared to a boxing glove it s much tougher than that.
In other species the male will guard the female for a few days prior to laying eggs.
The peacock mantis shrimp is very colorful with hues of bright red green orange and blue and its forearms are covered in spots.
Some species of mantis shrimp have several mating partners over the course of their lives.
Those that hunt by impaling their prey with spear like structures and those that smash prey with a powerful blow from a heavily mineralised club like appendage.
Their appendages or feet are very similar to those of other shrimps.
Mantis shrimp smashing a hole in a breeding box duration.
The peacock mantis shrimp live in the holes of coral and rocks on the ocean floor.
The appendage differences divide mantis shrimp into two main types.
Peacock mantis shrimp vs.
The mantis shrimp s second pair of thoracic appendages has been highly adapted for powerful close range combat.
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