Monday, March 25, 2013

A Super Shrimp



If you like eating shrimp like I do, you might be surprised to know that a kind of shrimp you may have enjoyed is a powerful predator.   Small but terrible, the Mantis Shrimp can give you  deep painful gashes if this interesting crustacean is not handled properly.  The shrimp is so powerful it can crush corals and rocks,  easily smash the hard shell of a crab (a favorite food of the shrimp),  and remove stainless steel boat propellers. It can even punch through aquarium glass a quarter of an inch thick.  Unbelievable?  It's true.

The creature is so amazing that scientists have been studying it in their search for strong materials that can be used in the military, medical and construction fields.

You will need to duck quickly when faced with a live Mantis Shrimp. The ocean boxer uses its claw to throw a punch at a speed of 80 kilometers (50 miles) per hour or as fast as a bullet from a .22 caliber pistol.  

But though dangerous and predatory, the mantis shrimp has redeeming qualities.  It is faithful and can stay monogamous to its mate for as long as 20 years. Unlike some of us humans who leave child rearing entirely to mothers, the shrimp is a model of joint parenthood and helps its mate tend the eggs.

You would wish that you have eyes like the shrimp's which can see 11 to 12 primary colors. In contrast, we humans only see  three -- red, green and blue. The shrimp can also see how light vibrates, which we  humans can't see unless we use technology.
 
Intimidated by the crustacean puncher?  Don't be.  The best way to deal with it is to put it on the dinner table.  It reportedly  tastes more like lobster than shrimp.  The Japanese call it  "Shako" and use it as Sushi topping.  The Chinese cook it with garlic and chilli peppers.  The Vietnamese grill or boil it.  For Filipinos, the shrimp  is  "Alupihang Dagat" (sea scorpion)  eaten  deep fried. 

The Mantis Shrimp may be the world's most dangerous shrimp but like the popular idiom says, all is fair in love, war and, if I may add, in  food.

Bon apetit!


Source: bartcorp.com


 
Source: planetanimalzone.blogspot.com

 
Below are links to videos and other information about the Mantis Shrimp: 



- Ariel Murphy

4 comments:

  1. Bon Appétit Ariel! What a fascinating piece

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    1. Thanks Paul! A lot of our fellow creatures are fascinating.

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  2. Great research on this Ariel - I knew about it, but had to watch all the videos and learned a lot more! I really enjoyed watching the videos ! Thanks !!

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    1. Well Pete, the Mantis Shrimp attracted my interest after I saw your post about it on FB. So I researched and decided to write about it. Thank you!

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