Mantis Shrimp – Latest Research News and Features

Mantis Shrimp

• Mantis shrimp is a small, colourful crustacean (~10 cm long).
• It uses a hammer-like appendage called the dactyl club to strike prey at a speed of 23 m/s (82.8 km/h).
• This strike speed is about 50 times faster than the blink of an eye.

• The energy released is powerful enough to:
  • Create shockwaves in water.
  • Cause cavitation bubbles (tiny vapour bubbles) due to low-pressure zones.
  • The collapse of these bubbles releases high-frequency shockwaves (hundreds of MHz) — a secondary blow to the prey.
• IUCN Status: Least Concern.

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