Posted on 06/01/2016 7:20:55 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
Fishermen call the animals “thumb-splitters” — at least one man has had a finger amputated after a mantis shrimp strike — and a blow from the crustacean’s truncheon can crack a pane of stock aquarium glass...
The mantis shrimp, only distantly related to the species you would find covered in tempura batter, come in two types, which marine biologists divide into “spearers” or “smashers.” The spearers impale prey with a javelin strike of a pointed claw, whereas the smashers use their fist-like appendages to pop the shells of their food. Smashers, and their shrimply hammers — technically known as dactyl clubs — are of particular interest to researchers because of the blistering blows the animals can deliver.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
All that is interesting, but how do they cook up?
Bubba knows shrimp
indeed
Yup. Tangled with a coupla those out workin with a shrimper I used to hang around with. Nasty l’il bass turds. They call’em “double-enders” around here.
“All that is interesting, but how do they cook up?”
Expensive. They taste expensive.
I recall the real issue with the classification of the Mantis Shrimp, and the confusion of the 3 types in the conversation.
I’m not a marine biologist but the three are the Mantis shrimp (which is huge, white and looks like a preying mantis. The “spearing” type as they say) then this ultra-unique species with the “hammer” claws. The hammer claws cock backwards and release with some insane pressure. The TRUE intrigue of this lies not in it’s claws (Which aren’t common, but also aren’t unheard of) but in it’s eyes. The eyes are complex and mysterious.
The third kind of shrimp scares the hell out of me. The Mantis shrimp doesn’t do a strike so fast that it supercavitates the water (The other one does produce supercavitation) but it’s scary as hell. But there are these little shrimp that look kinda like normal shrimp. They cock their claws back and release them .. not like a battering ram but as a regular claw closing.
But the key is that they supercavitate the water for feet in front of them (!) and they basically shoot super-hot jets of compressed air like laser beams.
I mean.. wow.
He foolishly tried to sweep away a pile of freshly caught marine life with his sandal-clad foot and got walloped by a Mantis Shrimp.
At first, it was thought a small shark or barracuda had bitten him, but...
I saw the wound after treatment and it looked like he'd been pounded with a 5 lb hammer.
Truly nasty little creatures.
The kid was never too bright and had been warned more than once about sticking his feet into the net dump, but he had to learn the hard way.
He later had a cartoon shrimp holding up a boxing glove tattooed on his ankle.
It matched the stupid tweety bird he had on his neck, I guess.
Africanized killer shrimp
T'ain't pretty. d:^)
Amazing creature -
IIRCC The Mantis Shrimp has the most complex visual system.
Two good related video clips within this link:
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/mantis_shrimp
Ugly little spud, isn’t it ?
“arrives with the acceleration of a .22-caliber bullet.”
Acceleration has nothing to do with arriving, or the caliber of the bullet. The shrimp’s punch arrives with the speed of 50 MPH. Fast, but nothing to compare with a .22-calibur bullet.
Curious about a supercavitating crustacean I found this informative and fun video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXrxCT0NpHo
I confess, I’m easily amused, so your mileage may vary.
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/mantis_shrimp
That was fun!
Now I want to know, where are the 13 additional colors are on the spectrum?
Ultraviolet? Infrared? Both?
I wouldn’t suggest calling him “Shrimp”
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