The incredible powers of the Mantis Shrimp
Stomatopods belong to the order of crustaceans, a subphylum of arthropods, which includes all species we commonly recognize as having an exoskeleton, an anatomical feature that supports and protects the animal. Mantis shrimps are often represented by a single species, Odontodactylus scyllarus, known as the Peacock Mantis Shrimp or Multicolored Mantis Shrimp. This species, frequently used to illustrate the remarkable physical abilities of certain marine animals, possesses a pair of raptorial appendages ending in club-like structures, which allow it to defend itself, break shells, and even shatter aquarium glass in the hands of the few aquarists attempting to keep a specimen in captivity. Found across the Indo-Pacific oceans—including East Africa, Japan, and Australia—this species leads a solitary life, hiding in rocks or sand within coral reefs.
To discuss its physical abilities in more detail, we can focus on its vision, which continues to intrigue and fascinate scientists today.
Each mantis shrimp eye is mounted on a mobile stalk and can move independently, enabling the animal to actively explore its environment. This phenomenon can be compared to chameleon eyes, which also move independently. Beyond this mobility, however, it is the internal structure of the eye that captivates scientists. The eye is divided into three distinct regions, including a midband containing multiple rows of photoreceptors. This midband allows the animal to perceive color in an exceptionally refined and sophisticated manner. Humans possess three types of retinal cones, sensitive to red, green, and blue wavelengths. The mantis shrimp, by contrast, has up to 16 different types of photoreceptors, several of which are dedicated to detecting ultraviolet light. Consequently, it can perceive a much broader spectrum of light than we can, including color nuances completely invisible to humans.
But that’s not all! The mantis shrimp can also detect polarized light, a physical phenomenon in which light vibrates in a single direction. This type of vision, extremely rare in the animal kingdom, allows it to spot camouflaged prey, detect reflective surfaces underwater, and even communicate discreetly with conspecifics using polarized patterns on its own body. Fascinatingly, unlike most animals (including humans), which process colors in the brain by comparison, the mantis shrimp is thought to perform this processing directly in its eyes, almost instantaneously. This ability may allow it to quickly identify visual signals without prolonged analysis. One hypothesis suggests that this capability is advantageous for its highly dynamic lifestyle, notably for efficiently hunting fast-moving prey or recognizing rivals.