Mantis Shrimps are the only animals to have hyperspectral colour vision and are considered to have the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom. They can see ultraviolet, visible and infra-red light and different planes of polarized light. The shape of their eyes allows them to see things with three different parts of the eye at once.

Harlequin Mantis Shrimp   © p@ragon

They are aggressive predators and feed mainly on small fish, other crustaceans and molluscs that they are able to strike with acceleration of up to 23 metres per second. The shock wave from the force can be enough to stun or even kill the prey. Some larger species with hammer-like claws have even been known to break the glass of aquariums.

« »