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Peacock Mantis Shrimp | Daily Animal Facts

Animal profile

Peacock Mantis Shrimp

Odontodactylus scyllarus

MalacostracaBurrows in sand and rubble on shallow tropical reefs, generally shallower than 40 metres

Field profile

The peacock mantis shrimp is a stomatopod, not a true shrimp, distinguished by vivid green, red and blue colouring and a pair of club-shaped raptorial appendages. It excavates burrows in reef rubble and preys mainly on snails, crabs and other hard-shelled animals. Its compound eyes are among the most structurally complex known.

Scope note

This is an editorial profile, not a diagnostic field-identification guide or a substitute for current conservation assessments. Follow the cited sources on each fact for the evidence trail.

Published field notes

2023-03-10

Peacock Mantis Shrimp

The mantis shrimp punch boils water

A peacock mantis shrimp accelerates its club so fast that the water behind it cannot keep up. The resulting cavitation bubble collapses with a flash of light and a second shock wave, so the prey is hit twice from one strike.

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