Mantis Shrimp Punches Crab’s Arm Off

The Peacock Mantis Shrimp. Otherworldly in appearance, there's more to this odd creature than meets the eye. It's a formidable predator. Its bizarre appearance is the result of 80 million years of evolution. With an appendage for every occasion, the Peacock Mantis Shrimp is the Swiss Army Knife of the marine world. Five pairs of legs for feeding, three pairs of legs for walking, two pairs of antenna for reception, ten gills for breathing, two eye stalks bearing an extraordinary pair of compound eyes, and even a set of windscreen wipers. But of its 34 appendages, it's those club-shaped limbs at the fore that make it a true killer. At just six inches, he punches well above his weight. His hunting strategy is one of brute force. Understandable when prey species include the well-armed and well-armored, not to mention well-camouflaged. But camouflage is of little use when hunted by a Peacock Mantis Shrimp. His eyes are amongst the most complex in the animal kingdom. While human eyes have just three color photoreceptors, he has 12. With the capacity to see far beyond the human visible spectrum, very little escapes his attention. While the crab's defenses are formidable, this seasoned brawler treats them with contempt. He's more than a little territorial and knows exactly who's moving through his patch, especially those of the tasty variety. Unaware of the Mantis Shrimp's presence, the crab strays close, too close. With the velocity of a .22 caliber bullet, the Mantis Shrimp's strike is the fastest in the animal kingdom. The assault is so fast that friction makes the surrounding water boil. The devastating punch knocks limbs off the victim and delivers a quick death. With built-in cutlery at his disposal, his home-delivered crab meat meal is ready to eat.