Shrimp can see beyond the rainbow Posted: 5 months ago by AutumnLotus
A giant shrimp living on Australia's Great Barrier Reef can see a world beyond the rainbow that is invisible to other animals. Mantis shrimps, dubbed "thumb splitters" by divers because of their vicious claws, have the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom, capable of seeing colors from the ultraviolet to the infrared, as well as detecting other subtle variations in light.
Comments: 9 Score: [-] 452 [+].
< 1 >
Posted: 5 months ago by maven:
Mantis shrimp are awesome. They live in more than just the GBR, and there are a couple of different species. Some have claws modified into clubs, while others have spears (clubbers hunt crunchies, spearers hunt swimmers). They're very smart, as well, and make for very interesting tank specimens--if you're willing to have just the shrimp. ;)
They'll watch you as you watch them.
Score: [-] 140 [+].
Posted: 5 months ago by donteatpoop:
« maven:Mantis shrimp are awesome. They live in more than just the GBR, and there are a couple of different species. Some have claws modified into clubs, while others have spears (clubbers hunt crunchies, spearers hunt swimmers). They're very smart, as well, and make for very interesting tank specimens--if you're willing to have just the shrimp. ;)
They'll watch you as you watch them. That sounds scary as s**t.
Score: [-] 107 [+].
Posted: 5 months ago by maven:
A little. They can be very aggressive, and tank maintenance requires a little more attention, but really they're no worse to work around than a trigger. I've never been hit by a mantis, but a trigger took off most of one knuckle and a burrfish chomped a finger. The octopus latching on was probably creepier, though.
Score: [-] 88 [+].
Posted: 5 months ago by vexingmodstwo:
« maven : A little. They can be very aggressive, and tank maintenance requires a little more attention, but really they're no worse to work around than a trigger. I've never been hit by a mantis, but a trigger took off most of one knuckle and a burrfish chomped a finger. The octopus latching on was probably creepier, though. Wait... "most of one knuckle" as in "down to the bone" most?
Score: [-] 67 [+].
Posted: 5 months ago by maven:
Uhhh...Yeah.
It got better!
It was my fault. Triggers are aggressive feeders, and have large, sharp teeth and strong jaws. I was focusing on getting a new fish to take some shrimp, wasn't paying attention to the trigger, and he slipped in from the side and chomped me. Salt water makes certain you notice these things quickly.
Score: [-] 110 [+].
Posted: 5 months ago by vexingmodstwo:
« maven : Uhhh...Yeah.
It got better!
It was my fault. Triggers are aggressive feeders, and have large, sharp teeth and strong jaws. I was focusing on getting a new fish to take some shrimp, wasn't paying attention to the trigger, and he slipped in from the side and chomped me. Salt water makes certain you notice these things quickly. I had a humma humma (sp?) trigger in college. Those suckers are mean. Mine used to eat the feeder fish by eating the eyeballs first so the fish couldn't see it as it came around front and chomped it down, buzz saw style, head first.
Score: [-] 103 [+].
Posted: 5 months ago by unzercharlie:
This is why you're the highest ranking member on plime.
Score: [-] 21 [+].
Posted: 5 months ago by Bandit:
« maven : Uhhh...Yeah.
It got better!
As soon as I read this I thought, "She turned me into a newt!"
Score: [-] 67 [+].
Posted: 5 months ago by Maven:
« Bandit : As soon as I read this I thought, "She turned me into a newt!" I was thinking that as I wrote it!
Score: [-] 63 [+].
< 1 >