Peacock Mantis Shrimp
Morphology
Peacock mantis shrimp most closely resemble lobsters. They are multicolored with shades of bright green, orange, red, and blue on its shell, and its forearms are covered in spots. Their compound eyes are blue in color. They also have bilateral symmetry. Distribution Map
Indian and Pacific oceans is where they are typically found.
|
Biology
Peacock mantis shrimp can be found at depths of 3-40 m, though they are usually found at depths of 10-30 m. They prefer water temperatures of 22-28°C. |
Importance
Ecological
They are an ecological importance to coral reefs because they are very sensitive to environmental pollutants, so their behavior indicates when conditions are poor. They also eat many organisms that feed on the coral reefs. |
Economical
A peacock mantis shrimp is very economically important. Although they are very popular, many aquariums don't like having them because they are capable of breaking aquarium glass. They are also known to be aggressive to other animals. These animals are sometimes introduced accidentally if they seem to be hiding in collected rock and coral. |
Facts about the peacock mantis shrimp
- It has 16 color-receptive cones
- It has 2 raptorial appendages on the front of its body that accelerate with the same velocity as a gunshot from a twenty-two caliber rifle.
- In less than three-thousandths of a second, it can strike prey with 1,500 newtons on force.
- Their limbs move around them so quickly the water around them boils.
- Dismemberment is primarily the way the mantis shrimp kills.
Vocabulary
|
|
Resources
Odontodactylus scyllarus http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Odontodactylus_scyllarus/ Why the mantis shrimp is my new favorite animal http://theoatmeal.com/comics/mantis_shrimp Odontodactylus scyllarus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odontodactylus_scyllarus |