SPECIES
Peacock mantis shrimp
Odontodactylus scyllarus Pending authority citation
Iridescent armour and lightning-fast forelimbs make this reef creature unforgettable.
Its specialised striking appendages break the shells of prey.
It hunts snails, crabs and other hard-shelled animals among reefs.
Indo-Pacific coral and rubble habitats.
Where does a peacock mantis shrimp live?
Indo-Pacific coral and rubble habitats.
Worth knowing
- Adaptation Its specialised striking appendages break the shells of prey.
- Ecological role It hunts snails, crabs and other hard-shelled animals among reefs.
- Home Indo-Pacific coral and rubble habitats.
How it survives
Its specialised striking appendages break the shells of prey.
Iridescent armour and lightning-fast forelimbs make this reef creature unforgettable.
Why relationships matter
It hunts snails, crabs and other hard-shelled animals among reefs.
Where it lives
Indo-Pacific coral and rubble habitats.
Pressures and responses
Reef degradation and collection pressure.
Protect reefs and avoid unsustainable collection.
Sources
- University of Michigan Museum of Zoology — Animal Diversity Web, Odontodactylus scyllarus
- GBIF — Odontodactylus scyllarus accepted taxon
- Nature / Patek et al. 2004 — A mechanical spring
- Journal of Experimental Biology — Cavitation adds a second hit
- Proceedings of the Royal Society B — Eyes move in three axes
- Peer-reviewed vision study — Polarisation vision in motion
- Smithsonian Institution — Reefs support its prey
Records of where it has been seen come live from GBIF; observed interactions from GloBI. Draft — not yet reviewed by a person.