jlbrock44Dec 14, 2022
Sheril Kirshenbaum

Cute, right? But you’re looking at the fiercest predator in the ocean: The mantis shrimp.

While not technically a mantis or shrimp, this little crustacean evolved 400M years ago to have the fastest punch on Earth and some of the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom featuring 12 photoreceptors. (We have 3).

The formidable mantis shrimp has a strike force powerful enough to instantly dismember prey… or smash through the glass in an aquarium. #SharedPlanet

More at https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/mantis-shrimp/amp/

Meet the mantis shrimp, your new favourite animal

Top tip: never get into a fight with one – it can punch with the force of a speeding bullet.

BBC Science Focus Magazine
Dec 8, 2022 at 12:29amMetatext
Show threadSudhirDec 8, 2022
@Sheril . Interesting SherilπŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ™.
Nature has millions of hidden secrets, Science is able to discover as we grow.πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸŒΉπŸ™
Show threadshom πŸ§πŸ“·πŸ€ΏπŸ”οΈπŸͺšβœŠπŸ½Dec 8, 2022
@Sheril the specimen pictured is the peacock mantis shrimp that are very pretty.
Other mantis shrimp facts that are so cool, I hope I'm remembering correctly:
- their punch moves so fast that there isn't enough time for water to rush to where the hammer was, so it creates a momentary vaccum, a cavitation.
- their eyes allow them to see diseases, like cancer, in their prey. The same principles can be used to improve our detection capabilities. #biomimicry is so cool.
Show threadshom πŸ§πŸ“·πŸ€ΏπŸ”οΈπŸͺšβœŠπŸ½Dec 8, 2022

@Sheril
The Shark's Paintbrush: Biomimicry and How Nature Is Inspiring Innovation By Jay Harman is an excellent book on the topic.
I really enjoyed it as an audiobook, each chapter is like a podcast episode. Speaking of which, #ologies is an excellent science podcast.

#biomimicry

Show threadshom πŸ§πŸ“·πŸ€ΏπŸ”οΈπŸͺšβœŠπŸ½Dec 8, 2022
Not sure how I feel about @lowqualityfacts liking my post about mantis shrimp facts πŸ˜‚
Show threadHistoPol (#HP) 🏴 πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ 🏴Dec 8, 2022
@Sheril scary
Show threadFernheadDec 8, 2022
@Sheril We must form a committee to ensure this creature stays at the bottom of the ocean, for the sake of humanity.
Show threadDrJekyllDec 12, 2022
@Fernhead @Sheril I love the idea of container sized mantis shrimp devouring the countryside. What an excellent starting point for a SciFi show :D
Show threadBenj SouleπŸ«‚πŸ’™HumanityFirstπŸŒ…Dec 8, 2022
@Sheril
Show threadDonnie CatfingerDec 8, 2022
@retrohondajunki @Sheril
Show threadT. J. BombadilDec 8, 2022
@Sheril Mantis shrimps were a mascot of our company when we launched a 16-band imaging camera. We all got shirts that said "be the mantis shrimp"
Show threadZeNeece πŸ¦„πŸŽοΈDec 8, 2022
@Sheril These little critters are seriously, amazingly badass! I've seem them punch in so motion and it's jaw-dropping. Plus they're sooo colorful! Nature is SO amazing!
Show threadmistershinsDec 8, 2022
@Sheril I first learned about the peacock mantis shrimp via a radiolab episode. Such a fascinating creature!
Show threadMichael / Chgowiz 🎲🎲Dec 8, 2022
@Sheril Also made famous by the webcomic Oatmeal, who extolls the awesomeness of the mantis shrimp: https://theoatmeal.com/comics/mantis_shrimp
Why the mantis shrimp is my new favorite animal - The Oatmeal

A comic about a glorious undersea creature.

The Oatmeal
Show threadKaizanDec 8, 2022
@chgowiz @Sheril I was just going to come here to say this, lol!
Show threadMac SwillerDec 8, 2022
@Sheril Posting that photo, are you sure you’re not just trying to curry favor with your fellow PBS employees here?
Show threadSheril KirshenbaumDec 8, 2022
@McSwiller πŸ˜† I love that!
Show threadDonnie CatfingerDec 8, 2022
@Sheril Kung Fu Mantis.
Show threadᴚ uɐᗑDec 8, 2022

@Sheril I **highly** recommend the Radiolab episode "Colors" which covers far more than the photo-receptors of various animals (including the Mantis Shrimp).

It covers the history of colors in literature (super interesting) and people who can see more colors than "normal".

BUT I also have to recommend this fantastic web comic courtesy of @oatmeal https://theoatmeal.com/comics/mantis_shrimp

Why the mantis shrimp is my new favorite animal - The Oatmeal

A comic about a glorious undersea creature.

The Oatmeal
Show threadᴚ uɐᗑDec 8, 2022

@Sheril @oatmeal here's the Radiolab.

My favorite episode of all time.
https://radiolab.org/episodes/211119-colors

Colors

Radiolab rips the rainbow a new one.

Radiolab Podcasts | WNYC Studios
Show threadAllenDec 8, 2022

@dannotdaniel @Sheril @oatmeal

Concur.

Show threadSandi WritesDec 8, 2022
@Sheril Amazing! It almost looks like the shrimp is made of glass and yet so strong. Thanks for sharing/teaching.
Show threadS'toonDec 8, 2022

@Sheril

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5FEj9U-CJM

True Facts About The Mantis Shrimp

YouTube
Show threadSuprmomcatCathyDec 8, 2022
@Sheril very cool!
Show threadThe Duality of XanDec 8, 2022
@Sheril A mantis shrimp can punch 50 times faster than the blink of an eye. They can strike with a force of over 1500 N, and they move so fast it leaves a tiny cavity of vacuum in the water. The energy released when that cavity collapses briefly superheats the water to around 4700Β°C.
Show threadAppagal CrochetDec 8, 2022

@Sheril Their punch is so fast it results in β€˜cavitation’ bubbles which generates temperates of 4,400c (which is nearly as hot as the sun) in the surrounding water.

These fists are spring loaded, able to accelerate from their body at over 50 mph, delivering a force of over 1,500 newtons! That’s 2.5k times the force of the shrimps own weight, if a human could do that they’d be able to punch through steel!

Show threadbluewave is comingDec 8, 2022
@Sheril Looks Alien
Show threadbluewave is comingDec 8, 2022
@Sheril plus with all that color any fish that's not color blind can easily find it, Not a good choice by evolution
Show threadlaniezDec 8, 2022
@Sheril wow!
Show threadLorian TaylorDec 8, 2022
@Sheril
Holy Moly! Cute little guy...from a distance!
Show threadBillStewart415Dec 8, 2022
@Sheril I first learned about mantis shrimp from one of Simone Giertz's videos (she did a mantis shrimp costume.)
Show threadTofu GolemDec 8, 2022
@Sheril
I love YouTube videos about those things. They are so fascinating.
Show threadSammy G πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦β˜•πŸΈDec 8, 2022
@Sheril We have a different idea of cute. Blech!
Show threadAutumn the Red SageDec 8, 2022
@Sheril https://sfba.social/@redsage/109476320112525023
Autumn the Red Sage (@[email protected])

Attached: 1 image Earlier this year, I made a bunch of silly digital collages of outfits to approximate different animals, so I’d like to share with you how to steal the look of the mantis shrimp.

SFBA.social
Show threadLilith AttackDec 8, 2022
@Sheril I heard that Radiolab episode when I was in boxing training and I wanted β€œmantis shrimp attack” as my fighter name!
Show threadMorganDec 8, 2022
@Sheril Metal AF.
Show threadBen RosengartDec 8, 2022
@Sheril Don’t we have four? R, G, B, and luminance?
Show threadIt's Just Jenn πŸ³οΈβ€βš§οΈDec 8, 2022

@Sheril that's amazing, I have never heard of these guys before! My first reaction is I'm surprised nobody has designed a Superhero around them. Of course, The Mantis Shrimp isn't the best name I suppose. πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

My second reaction is do we have any in captivity if they can strike like bullets?

Show threadMichelleDec 8, 2022

@Sheril still one of my favorites from the Oatmeal. Mantis shrimp are amazing.

https://theoatmeal.com/comics/mantis_shrimp

Why the mantis shrimp is my new favorite animal - The Oatmeal

A comic about a glorious undersea creature.

The Oatmeal
Show threadSheril KirshenbaumDec 8, 2022
@chellybeans oh that’s excellent @oatmeal! Thank you Michelle
Show threadTheStrawberryOverkill Dec 8, 2022
@Sheril who's a cutsie little... argh *gets dismembered*
Show threadMafeesh Dec 8, 2022
@Sheril the beach sellers in Cambodia bring these round each day for sale. I used to buy them from the market and prepping them could shred fingers. Live ones are a scary thing.
Tasty though.
Show threadAllenDec 8, 2022
@Sheril
Ok, it’s pretty, but is it cuddly and luvable the same way a puppy with a wet nose is?
Show threadDgarDec 8, 2022
@Sheril Knockout powahhh!!!
Show threadCheryl ChaffeeDec 8, 2022
@Sheril But, it's a rainbow! 🌈
Show threadcarolDec 8, 2022
@Sheril
OMG! Amazing. Thank you. πŸ––
Show threadacmDec 8, 2022
@Sheril
I will admit that I cannot even parse that critter!
Show threadSellaTheChemistDec 8, 2022
@Sheril in Venice they’re callled canocie (Kah-naw-chay) and (sorry) they have many fine ways of cooking them
Show threadShe WolfDec 8, 2022
@Sheril that's right I am a colorful shrimp jealous then deal with it says the shrimp.
Show threadConanTheActuarianDec 9, 2022
@Sheril Thump! They turn up in science podcasts from time to the me, so I knew what they were,but I had never seen one until now. Thank you.
Show threadZhi ZhuDec 10, 2022

@Sheril

If you haven't read The Oatmeal's comic strip about the Mantis Shrimp (which includes many interesting facts as well as fun illustrations), check it out:
https://theoatmeal.com/comics/mantis_shrimp

Why the mantis shrimp is my new favorite animal - The Oatmeal

A comic about a glorious undersea creature.

The Oatmeal
Show threadDrJekyllDec 12, 2022

@Sheril They are absolutely amazing. I will say, that I learned more about mantis shrimp from @oatmeal than I did anywhere else.

Have you seen his comic on them?

https://theoatmeal.com/comics/mantis_shrimp

πŸ˜†

Why the mantis shrimp is my new favorite animal - The Oatmeal

A comic about a glorious undersea creature.

The Oatmeal
Show threadrafikiphoto πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Έ πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Ί πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ Dec 12, 2022
Spectacular! I never cease to be amazed by the natural world. Thanks for posting.