Mantis Shrimp Biomimicry and Engineering Applications
Mantis shrimp adaptations “haven’t just astonished zoologists and anatomists they’ve also spurred us towards new innovations in variety of fields”—materials scientists, roboticists, and optics researchers drawing inspiration from claws and eyes.
Mantis Shrimp Polarized Light Detection and Communication
Mantis shrimp see six polarization types (horizontal, vertical, two diagonals, two circular)—only known animals seeing circularly polarized light (waves spiraling clockwise/counterclockwise). Other creatures (octopus, squid, crabs, cuttlefish) see some polarization types; humans can’t see polarized light.
Mantis Shrimp Smashing Claws and Extreme Impact Forces
Small subset of mantis shrimp evolved from spearers to “smashers”—developing clubs instead of spines. Purple spot mantis shrimp extend clubs at 31 m/s with acceleration >100,000 m/s²—greater than 22-caliber bullets fired from pistols, producing ~1,500 Newtons (340 lbs) force—thousands of times their body weight.
Mantis Shrimp Spearing Claws and Ambush Predation
Mantis shrimp order Stomatopoda separated from other crustaceans ~400 million years ago. Over next 200 million years, mouth parts morphed into raptorial claws creating predatory appearance like praying mantises (namesake), with “spearers” classified by deadly spear-shaped claws.
Mantis Shrimp Spring-Loading Mechanism and Energy Release
Mantis shrimp achieve extreme strike velocities through saddle-shaped chitin spring sitting atop claw, enabling “winding up” to extraordinary degrees—allowing much higher velocities than muscles alone could produce. Spearers also have saddles but much less effective.
Mantis Shrimp Vision and Photoreceptor Complexity
Mantis shrimp possess “most complex eyes of any creature in animal kingdom” with 12-16 photoreceptor types (humans: 3, dogs: 2, birds: 4), seeing ultraviolet and polarized light, with retinas processing visual information before reaching brain—potentially able to detect cancer before spreading.