Peacock Mantis Shrimp
The Peacock Mantis Shrimp is a wonderful little crustacean for many reasons. It has incredibly-good eyesight, in particular for a very wide range of colours. It also packs a very fast & hard punch, which is uses to break the shells of its prey.
An adult Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) hunting at Richelieu Rock, Thailand
Credit: Kevin Michael Gacad
Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus)
Credit: Emmy Ahlen
Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus)
Credit: Emmy Ahlen
Peacock Mantis Shrimp
Credit: Alexander Kiermayer
Peacock Mantis Shrimp
Credit: Alexander Kiermayer
Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) at Richelieu Rock, Thailand
Credit: Alexander Kiermayer
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Peacock Mantis Shrimp Odontodactylus scyllarus
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| Scientific Rank | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: |
Arthropoda (Arthropods)
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| Class: |
Malacostraca
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| Order: | Stomatopoda (Mantis Shrimps) |
| Family: | Odontodactylidae (Odontodactylidae) |
| Genus: | Odontodactylus (Odontodactylus) |
| Species: | Odontodactylus scyllarus |
| Size | |
| Average Size: | 13 centimetres |
Peacock Mantis Shrimp are amazing creatures. They are colourful, and can see many colours. They have an extremely hard & fast 'punch' for catching prey or cracking shells. They typically inhabit waters ranging from 10m.-30m. making them perfect for divers.
This species lives on coral reefs around the Indo-Pacific region, and can survive in the wild for 5 or 6 years. Technically they are not shrimps, and are stomatopods, defined by the make up of their shells. Their eyes are the most-advanced and complex in the animal kingdom, and they can see colours that no other species can.
