Mantis shrimp, which look like aliens, are often seen running across the ocean floor or peering out from their well-built burrows. These interesting crustaceans eat meat and come in many shapes and sizes. Some species live in temperate waters, but most of them are found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Don’t be fooled by this tiny animal’s name, though; mantis shrimp are also one of the ocean’s most dangerous predators. Here are ten facts about mantis shrimp that will help you find them and keep your cameras and thumbs safe.
The oceans are home to countless remarkable creatures, but few capture our imagination quite like mantis shrimp and blue whales. These marine animals may share an aquatic habitat, but they have key differences in anatomy behavior habitat and more.
In this article, we’ll explore how mantis shrimp and blue whales stack up against each other across various parameters. Read on to uncover what makes each of these sea-dwellers unique.
Size: Titans vs Tiny Terrors
The size difference between mantis shrimp and blue whales is staggering. Blue whales are the largest animals ever known to have existed, growing up to 100 feet long and weighing over 200 tons. In contrast, mantis shrimp are typically just a few inches in length.
Even the largest mantis shrimp species max out around 15 inches long. A puny mantis shrimp would barely make a snack for the monstrous blue whale! This vast difference in proportions allows the two species to thrive in very different ecological niches.
Habitat: Shallows vs the Open Ocean
Blue whales inhabit open oceans all over the world. They migrate across huge distances annually between rich feeding grounds. Mantis shrimp live in shallow tropical and subtropical waters, usually close to shore.
Specific mantis shrimp habitats include coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves and sandy or muddy bottoms. They construct burrows to live in, while blue whales swim freely through the vast ocean. The two species cross paths only briefly when blue whales pass over continental shelf areas. Their habitats are otherwise quite distinct.
Diet: Krill vs Crabs
Diet is dictated by the unique anatomy and behavior of each species. Blue whales are filter feeders using massive sieve-like baleen plates in their mouths to strain tiny shrimp-like krill from the water. An adult blue whale consumes up to 8000 lbs of krill daily.
In contrast, mantis shrimp are aggressive predators that feed on fish, shrimp, crabs and mollusks. They use specialized raptorial appendages to spear, smash and dismember prey with lightning speed and power. So a single blue whale eats more krill in one day than a mantis shrimp does in its lifetime!
Vision: Four Eyes vs Two Eyes
One of the mantis shrimp’s most fascinating features is its eyes. Each eye can move independently, giving the creature an incredibly wide field of vision. Mantis shrimp eyes also have 12-16 color receptors, compared to just 3 in human eyes. This gives them the most complex visual system in the animal kingdom.
Meanwhile, blue whales have relatively small eyes located on the sides of their giant heads. Their eyesight appears to be quite limited, adapted mainly for detecting light and movement. Blue whales likely rely more on their hearing to interact with their environment. So mantis shrimp have far superior vision compared to blue whales.
Communication: Clicks vs Rumbles
Blue whales are famous for their haunting, loud calls that can travel immense distances underwater for communication. Different whale vocalizations include moans, pulses, and frequencies beyond human hearing range.
Mantis shrimp also produce sounds, but via stridulation using hard parts of their exoskeletons. These rumbling vibrations have a much smaller range than whale calls. So blue whales are certainly the more “vocal” of the two species when it comes to communication.
Conservation Status: Least Concern vs Data Deficient
Both mantis shrimp and blue whales face threats from human activities like habitat degradation. However, they have very different conservation statuses. Blue whales are classified as Endangered by the IUCN Red List with population numbers still recovering post-whaling.
Mantis shrimp species are currently ranked Least Concern or Data Deficient, as there is insufficient data about population sizes and threats. Targeted research and monitoring is needed to better understand their numbers and risks.
Mantis Shrimp Have the Coolest Eyes
The eyes of a mantis shrimp are at the end of its stalks. They look cool and give the mantis shrimp unmatched vision. It is thought that their eyes are the most complex in the animal kingdom because they can move apart from each other.
The eyes of a mighty mantis shrimp have between 12 and 16 different types of photoreceptor cells, while our eyes only have three types. This allows them to see ultraviolet, visible and polarized light.
Mantis Shrimp Can Break Aquarium Glass
Mantis shrimp that smash have been known to break aquarium glass, which is how they got their other name, the thumb splitter. Up to 1,500 newtons of force can be generated by how fast they can punch. This force has been known to break thick, tempered aquarium glass. Be careful not to get too close with your pricey camera dome! Fun fact about mantis shrimp: their punch is as strong as a 22 calibre bullet!.
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