With about 200 thousand animal species discovered, it's easy for some animals to not get the attention they deserve. Everyone says "Oh! My favorite animal is a Tiger/Lion/Dolphin!" (super original guys), but what about the many other wonderful creatures of the world? Well people, I'm here to teach you about one of my personal favorites, the peacock mantis shrimp, or as I like to refer to them, nature's badasses.
First off, this is the peacock mantis shrimp:
Sure, if a person dressed like how the peacock mantis shrimp does, you may think they looked like a idiot. But, on the shrimp, it's absolutely gorgeous. Do you get why they're called the peacock mantis shrimp now?
Their size: While most species of mantis shrimp only grow to be around four inches, some species can reach sizes of 15 inches! The peacock mantis shrimp can be anywhere from two inches to seven, and that's pretty big for something called "shrimp!" (Sorry for that insanely cheesy joke).
Their weapons: These shrimp are equipped with two club-like appendages that are capable of hitting speeds faster than a .22 caliber bullet, and 50 times faster than a blink of an eye. Not only do these clubs move fast, but they produce 1500 Newtons of force. If a human could punch like a mantis shrimp, they could break steel. Compared to these guys, we all look like a bunch of sissies. They basically punch the crap out of everything in their way. They are known for taking down animals larger then themselves as well as breaking shells of mollusks and crabs.
Not only do their strikes pack a punch, but they produce an incredible phenomena known as "cavitation bubbles." Because their clubs move through the water so fast, they actually push the water aside and create pockets of air. When these bubbles burst, they release a shockwave as well as producing heat, sound, and light.
Their eyes: The mantis shrimp's eye is very advanced. Humans have binocular vision, with each eye producing an image. The mantis shrimp has sexnocular vision, each eye produces three different images. How the f*** do you understand what's going on when you're seeing six different images!? That's some crazy s***. If I was them, I would just probably walk into walls and such because I would have zero idea what's going on.
The human eye can detect three color wavelengths, the peacock mantis shrimp can detect 16. So basically, think of a color that doesn't exist! And then do it 12 more times. Not so easy, huh? The human eye can distinguish about 10 million colors, with only our three color receptors. Animals with five color receptors can see about 10 billion colors, it has not been estimated how many the shrimp can see with its many color receptors, but one thing is for sure: it's a f***ton.
Their structure: You may be wondering, how can the mantis shrimp punch so hard but not break their own arm and be a cry baby about it? The clubs of the mantis shrimp are formed by many mineralized fiber layers arranged in a spiral structure. Researchers have mimicked the structure of their clubs and have found them to be highly resistant to damage despite their light weight. This research is being used to develop new armor for soldiers, as wells as being used in both the automotive and aerospace industries.
If you can't appreciate the beauty that is the mantis shrimp, then you're wrong.
