Post by Deinobrontornis on Nov 8, 2011 18:55:49 GMT -5
[a href="Peacock mantis shrimp - Odontodactylus scyllarus"]Peacock mantis shrimp - Odontodactylus scyllarus[/a]
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Stomatopoda
Family: Odontodactylidae
Genus: Odontodactylus
Species: O. scyllarus
The peacock mantis shrimp, Odontodactylus scyllarus, also known as the harlequin mantis shrimp or painted mantis shrimp, is a large mantis shrimp native to the Indo-Pacific from Guam to East Africa.
Description:
O. scyllarus is one of the larger, more colorful mantis shrimps commonly seen, ranging in size from 3 to 18 centimeters (1.2 to 7.1 in). They are primarily green in color, with orange legs and leopard-like spots on the anterior carapace.
Their ability to see circularly polarized light has led to studies to determine if the mechanisms by which their eyes operate can be replicated for use in reading CDs and similar optical information storage devices.
Ecology:
They are burrowers, constructing U-shaped holes in the loose substrate near the bases of coral reefs in water ranging from 3 to 40 metres (9.8 to 130 ft) deep.
This mantis shrimp is a smasher, with club shaped raptorial appendages. An active hunter, it prefers gastropods, crustaceans, and bivalves, and will repeatedly smash its prey until it can gain access to the soft tissue for consumption. It is reported to have a "punch" of over 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). This is the fastest recorded punch of any living animal.
In aquaria:
Peacocks are popular with aquarists for their bright colors and active behavior, but are not reef safe, as they will eat other tank occupants. They are therefore often kept as solitary creatures in acrylic tanks. Though they are burrowers in the wild, these animals will readily accept a suitably sized length of PVC pipe as a surrogate lair. They are active, intelligent, curious animals, capable of interacting with their keepers.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Stomatopoda
Family: Odontodactylidae
Genus: Odontodactylus
Species: O. scyllarus
The peacock mantis shrimp, Odontodactylus scyllarus, also known as the harlequin mantis shrimp or painted mantis shrimp, is a large mantis shrimp native to the Indo-Pacific from Guam to East Africa.
Description:
O. scyllarus is one of the larger, more colorful mantis shrimps commonly seen, ranging in size from 3 to 18 centimeters (1.2 to 7.1 in). They are primarily green in color, with orange legs and leopard-like spots on the anterior carapace.
Their ability to see circularly polarized light has led to studies to determine if the mechanisms by which their eyes operate can be replicated for use in reading CDs and similar optical information storage devices.
Ecology:
They are burrowers, constructing U-shaped holes in the loose substrate near the bases of coral reefs in water ranging from 3 to 40 metres (9.8 to 130 ft) deep.
This mantis shrimp is a smasher, with club shaped raptorial appendages. An active hunter, it prefers gastropods, crustaceans, and bivalves, and will repeatedly smash its prey until it can gain access to the soft tissue for consumption. It is reported to have a "punch" of over 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). This is the fastest recorded punch of any living animal.
In aquaria:
Peacocks are popular with aquarists for their bright colors and active behavior, but are not reef safe, as they will eat other tank occupants. They are therefore often kept as solitary creatures in acrylic tanks. Though they are burrowers in the wild, these animals will readily accept a suitably sized length of PVC pipe as a surrogate lair. They are active, intelligent, curious animals, capable of interacting with their keepers.
