Category
🐳
AnimalsTranscript
00:00 The peacock mantis shrimp.
00:07 Otherworldly in appearance, there's more to this odd creature than meets the eye.
00:14 It's a formidable predator.
00:20 Its bizarre appearance is the result of 80 million years of evolution.
00:28 With an appendage for every occasion, the peacock mantis shrimp is the Swiss Army knife
00:34 of the marine world.
00:42 Five pairs of legs for feeding.
00:46 Three pairs of legs for walking.
00:49 Two pairs of antennae for reception.
00:54 Ten gills for breathing.
00:58 Two eye stalks bearing an extraordinary pair of compound eyes.
01:04 And even a set of windscreen wipers.
01:10 But of its 34 appendages, it's those club-shaped limbs at the fore that make it a true killer.
01:23 At just six inches, he punches well above his weight.
01:30 His hunting strategy is one of brute force.
01:37 Understandable when prey species include the well-armed and well-armored.
01:44 Not to mention well-camouflaged.
01:50 But camouflage is of little use when hunted by a peacock mantis shrimp.
01:58 His eyes are amongst the most complex in the animal kingdom.
02:04 While human eyes have just three color photoreceptors, he has 12.
02:10 With the capacity to see far beyond the human visible spectrum, very little escapes his
02:20 attention.
02:22 While the crab's defenses are formidable, this seasoned brawler treats them with contempt.
02:30 He's more than a little territorial and knows exactly who's moving through his patch.
02:38 Especially those of the tasty variety.
02:44 Unaware of the mantis shrimp's presence, the crab strays close.
02:50 Too close.
02:57 With the velocity of a 22 caliber bullet, the mantis shrimp's strike is the fastest
03:04 in the animal kingdom.
03:10 The assault is so fast that friction makes the surrounding water boil.
03:25 The devastating punch knocks limbs off the victim and delivers a quick death.
03:33 With built-in cutlery at his disposal, his home-delivered crab meat meal is ready to
03:39 eat.
03:40 [MUSIC]