Odontodactylus scyllarus

Behavior:

This is one of the most complex and aggressive predators on the reef. It lives in U-shaped burrows excavated in the sand or coral rubble. A “smashing” specialist, it uses heavily calcified appendages called dactyl clubs to shatter the shells of crabs, snails, and clams. These shrimp are highly territorial and possess the most sophisticated visual system in the animal kingdom; their eyes move independently and can perceive polarized light and a vast spectrum of colors invisible to humans.

Predators:

Octopuses, reef sharks, and grouper.

Did you know?

The strike of a Peacock mantis shrimp is one of the fastest movements in the world, reaching the bullet speeds. The punch is so powerful that it creates “cavitation bubbles”—tiny pockets of vapor that collapse with enough force to generate heat and light, essentially hitting the prey twice with a single swing.