Random Incredible Things You Didn't Know About Mantis Shrimp, Tiny Hulks Of Sea (14 items)

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  (#12) They Are Very Detailed Learners

  You probably wouldn't think of a shrimp, lobster, or any crustacean as being particularly intelligent, but a mantis shrimp would probably disagree with you. Through scientific studies, they have shown to have pretty good memories, and are quite capable of learning and adapting to different situations. Certain species have shown they can signal and understand behavioral signals from other animals besides their own kind, and they are able to learn about unfamiliar species rather quickly. They are able to recognize individual creatures and other mantis shrimp that they repeatedly come across, and can identify others even by smell alone. So, if you were to misguidedly try to keep a mantis shrimp as a pet, it would quickly grow to recognize you.
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  (#10) They Are Absurdly Heavily Armored

  With how fast these little creatures move, with the type of punch they pack, and with how aggressive and predatory they are, it stands to reason they'd need a pretty thick skin to survive. In fact, mantis shrimp have multiple levels of armor and flesh, starting with a layer that is similar to human bones and teeth. Then, underneath, there are layers of hydroxyapatite and chitin, acting somewhat like a bulletproof vest. Cracks do form, but the material of the shell are such that mantis shrimp can smash things over and over again without the cracks growing. Mantis shrimp can move and attack the way they do without harm. This armor is so effective the military is looking into using similar methods to make better armor for soldiers, as well as better armor for cars and other vehicles. 
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  (#13) They Make Great Dads

  Mantis shrimp are a monogomous species, and they mate about 20 to 30 times in their lives. During that period, the father mantis shrimp turns into superdad, and takes on many responsibilities the female has. They share the same burrow during the gestation of the eggs, do their daily activities together, and the males will take care of the eggs themselves. Sometimes, there are actually two clutches of eggs laid, and the father takes care of one clutch all on his own. He will hunt for his family, protect his family, and even after the babies hatch, he still sticks around. It might be up to three months before the babies go off on their own, and he keeps a watchful eye on them for that entire time.
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  (#9) They Can Vaporize Water Just By Moving

  When a mantis shrimp attacks or decides to move with haste, the consequences on its surroundings can be drastic. For example, the mantis shrimp can move so fast it flash-boils the water around its body or its mandibles. This causes the water to vaporize suddenly, then implode with a sharp bang that can actually be heard by nearby creatures. The bang is accompanied by a shockwave that passes through the water as an added blow against enemies or prey. The heat from the boiling and vaporized water can also harm other animals, which makes a mantis shrimp attack a triple threat: speed, impact, and heat. 

  Some mantis shrimp spear their prey rather than smashing it, and these stabbing mandibles can move just as quickly. They can impale prey so fast that no one ever saw it coming, and can be then used to dismember the prey for eating.
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  (#4) Their Attacks Can Move Faster Than Bullets

  There are few animals out there who can pack more of a punch than this creature. Many mantis shrimp species tend to eat clams and other hard-shelled mollusks. They can afford to do this because they can attack with their super-hard claws with all the speed of a .22 caliber bullet. Those little claws move so fast the human eye cannot detect them, and impact  a surface with more than 160 pounds of force. The attack doesn't even have to be perfectly on target, because the shockwave they create as they move can be deadly all on its own. They also tend to be predatory in nature, so whether it's a fish, mussel, or potential enemy, the mantis shrimp is going to take them down.

  In some cultures, the mantis shrimp is known as the "thumb splitter," and given this information, it's easy to see why.
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  (#1) Mantis Shrimp Are Not Actually Shrimp

  Despite their name and appearance, mantis shrimp are not truly shrimp at all. Instead, they are a crustacean more closely related to lobsters and crabs. Their name mostly refers to their close resemblance to praying mantises, an insect you might be able to find in your garden. However, unlike the mandibles that mantises have, this creature has something a little different. On the ends of its front legs, mantis shrimp have a a raptorial second thoracic appendage, that makes them unique from both mantises and shrimp, as well as crabs or lobsters.

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