📷 Predatory Mantis Shrimp

For a long time I have not had anything from the underwater world here in my blog. I urgently need to fix it :) Meet the mantis shrimp, one of the representatives of the Stomatopoda squad, living off the coast of Negros Island, Philippines.

I managed to take not so many pictures — the model was shy, did not really want to pose :) This is not surprising, because these crustaceans spend most of their lives hiding in deep holes, so how can they be accustomed to the public? Because of this, many of their species are still insufficiently explored. However, they are all strong and ruthless predators, an important part of the marine ecosystem.

This handsome, it seems, is a peacock mantis shrimp, they are usually quite large, the average size is 5-20cm. They are called that because of the brightly colored parts of the body. They are mostly green in color with orange legs and leopard print on the front. And those peacock feather-like spots on the tail!

He is able to throw out his front limbs, which in a calm state are tucked towards the body, with tremendous speed and force, breaking the shell and body of his victim (usually clams, shrimps, fish and worms), the additional speed of his throws is added by the push of the tail. In addition, although not very clearly visible in the photograph, they have wonderful spherical eyes: they can see the optical, infrared and ultraviolet ranges of the spectrum and also see polarized light.

In general, although they look pretty cute and fun because of their colors, but if you were comparable in size to them and lived under water, then you would try not to come across them :) Fortunately, for people they are not dangerous, in some places they are eaten, and also kept in aquariums because of their elegant appearance.

And by the way, notice what wonderful plants and corals surround him. I'm looking, and I want to go there again!