Gallery: Absurd Creature of the Week: Ferocious, Fearless Mantis Shrimp Is the Honey Badger of the Sea
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This is what marine biologists call "a major bummer." *Image: Roy Caldwell*
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*Odontodactylus scyllarus*, known as the peacock mantis shrimp, smashing through a snail's shell. Mantis shrimp can strike so quickly that they momentarily heat the water around their clubs to the temperature of the sun's surface, kindly giving their pray a nice tan before consuming them. *Image: Roy Caldwell*
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*Odontodactylus scyllarus* female holding her eggs. The females of some mantis shrimp species will actually hand off a second clutch of eggs to their mates to carry, saying, "Here hold this for just a second." But the male is well aware he's stuck with them. *Image: Roy Caldwell*
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Eyes of a *Lysiosquillina sulcata* juvenile looking out of burrow. Mantis shrimp eyes are so astonishingly complex and powerful that they can see things no other animal on Earth can. No, it's not dead people. *Image: Roy Caldwell*
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*Odontodactylus japonicus* swimming. Mantis shrimp aren't actually shrimp, but they are indeed crustaceans. And as arthropods, they periodically shed their shells and grow new ones, lest their outfits go out of season. *Image: Roy Caldwell*
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A nice shot of *Gonodactylus sp.* showing its heavily calcified smashers. Mantis shrimp strike with such force that they wear down these clubs, only to replace the armor when they molt. It's a bit like reloading a gun – a gun with, like, eyes and stuff. *Image: Roy Caldwell*
