This small but mighty punch-packing epipelagic snarf is one of the most colorful critters under the sea. But with their advanced visual system, we’ll never see the majestic glitter locust in the same stunning glory as they can.
Today’s Moment of Science… The peacock mantis shrimp.
There’s speculation that humans only developed the ability to see the color blue somewhat recently. In the Iliad, Homer described a “copper” sky and a “wine-dark” sea. To be fair, Homer also described green honey and violet sheep, so I’m not entirely convinced he didn’t just hallucinate his way through Greek mythology. However, this wasn’t an isolated bit of epic poetry. Words for the color blue didn’t start appearing in several disparate language groups until much later than other colors.
Which, to be fair, isn’t proof of shit. At best it’s proof that there wasn’t a word for blue. More likely than a lack of ability to see the color is that it was linguistically lumped in with green and purple. Colors that defy definition still exist somewhere over the rainbow, and the only ones who could possibly describe them aren’t talking.
Speaking of.
Scientifically proven to be the most fabulous out of over 450 species of stomatopods, the peacock mantis shrimp can be found in shallow waters in several regions of the Indian and Pacific oceans. These psychedelic prawns range from 1.2-7.1 inches, suggesting that even for a shrimp, six inches is more than adequate.
This clown lobster likely has the most advanced peepers in the animal kingdom. While a handful of other species are known to be able to see polarized light, these radiant crustaceans put them all to shame. They can see six types of polarized light, and are amongst the only critters known to have the ability to see circularly polarized light. The only known anythings that can see circularly polarized light are a few other species of mantis shrimp.
Some animals can see UV light, while others rely on their ability to see infrared radiation (aka thermal imaging). This scuttling skittles bag can do both. Humans have four types of photoreceptors; the peacock mantis shrimp has sixteen types in eyes that move independently of each other.
Whatever they can see is an acid trip wrapped in a riddle dipped in jazz.
But it’s not all fun and games with this rainbow nope. Unlike their distant, more cocktail-sauce-adjacent cousins, these are not filter feeders. These motherfuckers will engage in fisticuffs for their dinner, and don’t let their small size fool you. With a punch that literally travels faster than a speeding bullet, if the punch doesn’t take care of business the ensuing shock wave will. They can bust open clam shells with no problem. They’ll punch a crab’s arm off. They can throw a haymaker that will smash through aquarium glass.
They can break your fucking finger.
Should you get one for your aquarium? That depends on a few things, the least of which being how much you value your remaining limbs. Some enthusiasts consider peacock mantis shrimp to be pests, given their ability to punchasize their way into anything you’re trying to keep alive. It’s also a bit of a drag to sort out an aquarium with bulletproof glass. Still, some people want them, because WOULD YOU JUST FUCKING LOOK AT THEM?
This has been your Moment of Science, hoping you’ll consider a pet axolotl instead.
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