Mantis Shrimp on TV

[M-pire]

Watching a show on Animal Planet tonight about the most extreme senses. Number two in the list (count down to one) was the Mantis Shrimp for having the most extreme eyes on the planet. They said it has binocular eyes that are so good they can recognize individuals and even the difference between the person who feeds it and strangers. It has 16 pigments it sees in its eye as opposed to our 3. Also, it processes information it sees in its eye, because its brain is too small. Just makes you think a little more about these shrimp so many people hate...but it still doesn't make me want one. :shake:

Sorry if this is old news, but I don't remember anyone mentioning this in recent past.

 

[gcvt]

I'm busy switching back and forth between the Animal Planet shows and "Predators of the sea" on National Geographic Channel

 

[Kurt]

hmmmm, so he sees me and I cannot see him.:mad2 So if one cannot catch them does that mean could be using less brain space?????

 

[Gealcath]

They are also intelligent, if a trap fails the first time to catch them, they will avoid it.

 

[Dale W.]

Why do we hate them so much?

Because they are smarter than most of us

 

[mogurnda]

I can't say I hate them as much as fear them. As a diver, I'm just glad they don't get big enough to eat people.

 

[Rucca]

why do you fear the mantis shrimp?

i think people hate mantis shrimp because they eat small to mid-sized fish, and some invertebrates. Is that correct?

But why fear the mantis shrimp?

 

[OrionGirl]

Mantis shrimp have the well earned knick name of thumb splitters. They will defend themselves, and both the spearer and club varieties will do some damage if you come into contact with them. I had a club variety, and it was surprising how hard he could smack things. I used nylon tongs anytime I worked near it, and it could hit the tongs hard enough to knock them out of my hand. Pretty sure it would have bruised, and possibly broken, a finger.

 

[M-pire]

How big was it to be that forcefull?

 

[OrionGirl]

About an inch and a half, maybe 2 inches. Not as big around as my thumb--about as big around as a Sharpie marker. Yes, I really did measure it; no, I am not some feeble little old lady; yes, it shocked the heck out of me the first time!