Peacock Mantis Shrimp - Wonderful Little Crustacean

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.

Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) at Richelieu Rock, Thailand
An adult Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) hunting at Richelieu Rock, Thailand
Credit: Kevin Michael Gacad
Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus)
Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus)
Credit: Emmy Ahlen
Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus)
Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus)
Credit: Emmy Ahlen
Peacock Mantis Shrimp
Peacock Mantis Shrimp
Credit: Alexander Kiermayer
Peacock Mantis Shrimp
Peacock Mantis Shrimp
Credit: Alexander Kiermayer
Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) at Richelieu Rock, Thailand
Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) at Richelieu Rock, Thailand
Credit: Alexander Kiermayer
Peacock Mantis Shrimp Odontodactylus scyllarus
Scientific Rank
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class:
Malacostraca
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. 

No Troubles Just Bubbles' divers who recently saw Peacock Mantis Shrimp

Perry
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: Andaman
Trip destinations: Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai, Koh Bon, Similan Islands
When: Mar 2024
Carsten
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: MV Bavaria
Trip destinations: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock
When: Feb 2024
Fran
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: MV Pawara
Trip destinations: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock
When: Feb 2024
Robert
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: MV Explorer
Trip destinations: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock
When: Feb 2024
Cinny
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: MV Camic
Trip destinations: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, Boonsung Wreck, 813 Wreck
When: Jan 2024
Toennies
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: Camic
Trip destinations: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, Boonsung Wreck, 813 Wreck
When: Apr 2023
Elisabeth and Lea
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: Lapat
Trip destinations: Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon
When: Apr 2023
Michelle
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: Manta Queen 7
Trip destinations: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, Boonsung Wreck
When: Apr 2023
Scott
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: Deep Andaman Queen
Trip destinations: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock
When: Feb 2023
Fabio
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: Lapat
Trip destinations: Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon
When: Jan 2023
Cailyn
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: The Junk
Trip destinations: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, Boonsung Wreck
When: Nov 2022
Dani N
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: Merdeka 3
Trip destinations: Racha Yai, Racha Noi, Koh Phi Phi
When: Sep 2022
Joel Rajesh
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: Andaman
Trip destinations: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock
When: Apr 2022

Have you ever seen Peacock Mantis Shrimp when diving?
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