I wrote:
The smashers use their raptorial arms not just to kill prey, but also to break it apart to eat. The species in the photo eats things like small crabs, and gastropod snails that live in shells. When the mantis shrimp sees one of those and goes after it, first he punches it silly, then he uses his raptorial arms to crack open the shell so that he can pick out the meat with his little forward legs, which are also specialized for that purpose.Here is a video I came across on YouTube that shows a Mantis Shrimp in an aquarium doing exactly what I described. Although the Mantis Shrimp in the video is a different species from the one in my photos, it also is a smasher. Have a look (but don't blame me for the choice of background music):
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(If the video does not play or display properly above, click here to view it on YouTube.)
Tip of the hat to YouTube user accubyrd, on whose page there are a few more Mantis Shrimp videos.
The UMAF on FOX! (Ultimate Marine Animal Fighting)
ReplyDeletevery cool..... Thanks fo visiiting my blog.. hope you stop by again soon!
ReplyDeleteWWF in the marinekingdom? It looks tragic but that's the way life is i gather.
ReplyDeleteWow, that was an EPIC battle! And I thought the music was perfect.
ReplyDeleteRock on -
Tink *~*~*
That was a battle! And I turned the music off after the first 10 seconds! hehe.
ReplyDeleteWaw!!!I'm speachless about your photos and a bit jealous because you're near to so many rare critters.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, how do you know greek?
@ ScienceGuy - UMAK on Fox?? Hadn't thought of that. Maybe Discovery Channel would be interested in doing Mantis Shrimp Week -- something like Shark Week, only with smaller critters.
ReplyDelete@ Dana - Thanks for stopping by.
@ sho - WWF? You and ScienceGuy have similar views, I see.
@ Tink - I'm glad someone liked that music! ;-}
@ Will - I had to turn it off, too -- but Tink liked it. Different strokes, and all that. ;-}
@ Marina - Your comment has me puzzled. How did you know that I know Greek? Well, to answer your question, I learned Greek when I lived in Greece. Γεια σας,
Μαρίνα.
Bobbie
This is how I know your greek knowledge: I read your comment in a blog and I wondered how a man from Hawaii knows greeks.
ReplyDeleteΜαρίνα - Θέλω να σας πω κάτι. Είμαι από τη Χαβάη, μα είμαι μια γυναίκα, όπως και εσείς. ;-}
ReplyDeleteBobbie
I guess you can say he is relentless. I saw one for the first time at the aquarium. The colors were beautiful but I couldn't get a good shot of it because of the reflections on the glass.
ReplyDeleteΣυγνώμη αλλά...είδα το όνομα και θεώρησα ότι είσαι άντρας!!! Βέβαια έσκασα στα γέλια με το λάθος μου!!! Ελπίζω και εσύ!!!
ReplyDeleteSee you around!!!
I love sea. When i was a little girl, my mother used to call me "fish", because when we were to the beach, i was under water all the time. I like your photos and your video. For your curiosity: Marina and i are sisters. That's how she knows about you.
ReplyDeleteVery cool blog. Just to let you know I am adding you to my blog roll.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Congratulations! You won an award from me. Look at my blog.
ReplyDelete@ 2Sweet - Yes, this Mantis Shrimp was relentless -- but that is exactly how they make their living in the wild, too.
ReplyDelete@ Marina - Καταλαβαίνω -- δεν πειράζει. Νόμιζα ότι ήταν αστείο.
@ Fish Whisperer - Thank you so much. I enjoyed visiting your blog, too.
@ Antigoni (the fish) - ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ!
Bobbie
That was awesome !!
ReplyDeletewow that is awesome. thanks for introducing me to the mantis shrimp.
ReplyDelete@ Bernie - Thank you very much.
ReplyDelete@ Tommy - My pleasure.
Bobbie