Creature Feature: Peacock Mantis Shrimp

Andrew Hosie's blog | Created 1 decade ago

Fight Club: the Peacock Mantis Shrimp Odontodactylus scyllarus (Linneaus, 1758)

Mantis Shrimp belong to a group of crustaceans, called stomatopods, only distantly related to shrimps and prawns you would normally see on your dinner plate. They get their common name from the enlarged second limb, referred to as the claw, which is very reminiscent of the front legs of the praying mantis. Much like the praying mantis in your back garden, mantis shrimp also use these limbs for capturing prey, with which they launch lightning fast attacks.

The Peacock Mantis Shrimp belongs to a group of stomatopods commonly referred to as “smashers” or “clubbers” as the first joint is swollen or thickened and is used like a club to very violently smash hard bodied or shelled prey like crabs and snails. The club is incredibly strong and there are reports of these animals being able to crack aquarium glass. Many unwary divers have felt the pain that can be delivered by these crustaceans which has earned them the nickname “thumb-splitters”. Even if you pick them up by the carapace they can still whip their tail around and stick you with the often very spiny, shield like tail fan. The tail fan is thickened and used defensively during disputes between individuals over females, territory and burrows. Fighting is often ritualised where opponents take turns at striking each other's tail in a show of force, rather than all out battles to the death.

It’s stunning colouration and behaviour has made the Peacock Mantis Shrimp a poplar species among aquarium enthusiasts. Found on shallow coral reefs in the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans, this species is yet to be recorded from mainland Western Australia, instead it has been found on Christmas and Cartier Islands and Ashmore Reef.

The thickened claw of a species of smasher mantis shrimp.
The thickened claw of a species of smasher mantis shrimp.
Photo by Andrew Hosie
Image copyright of WA Museum

 

Detail of the ornate tail fan of the Peacock Mantis Shrimp. Photo: Andrew Hosie.
Detail of the ornate tail fan of the Peacock Mantis Shrimp.
Photo by Andrew Hosie
Image copyright of WA Museum

 

The Peacock Mantis Shrimp
The Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Odontodactylus scyllarus, out on the reef
Photo by Glenn Moore
Image copyright of WA Museum