Did you know that the mantis shrimp has the world’s fastest punch? Well, if you didn’t, you’re in for a surprise! Watch what happens when a mantis shrimp decides it wants to eat a crab:
Peacock mantis shrimp breaking glass slow motion 1500 frames per second from BIOPIXEL on Vimeo.
The mantis shrimp uses its specially designed club-like claws to quickly smash whatever prey item it fancies. In fact, some of larger species of mantis shrimp can smash through aquarium glass in a single strike.
They actually strike so rapidly that they generate cavitation bubbles between their claws and the striking surface. When these cavitation bubbles collapse, they produce measurable forces on their prey in addition to the instantaneous forces of 1,500 newtons that are caused by the impact of the claw against the striking surface, which means that the prey is hit twice by a single strike.
Ouch.
In the video below, watch what happens when cameramen record the quick strike of the peacock mantis shrimp. Essentially, they use their claws as deadly, shell-smashing boxing gloves.
But the mantis shrimp is not the only small crustacean that speaks softly and carries a big stick. The pistol shrimp is equally, if not more, fascinating because it can actually shoot and stun prey with “bubble bullets”. Click here to read more about the pistol shrimp.
