A peacock mantis shrimp out on the bottom in the Lembeh Strait pauses to peer at the photographer. Mantis shrimp are stomatopods, a type of crustacean and not actually related to either shrimp or mantoids (insects) but are named for their resemblance to both. Mantis shrimp are curious, active predators that hunt primarily using their excellent vision in the daytime. They are approachable and not particularly dangerous to divers, but care is still needed: Mantis shrimp are also called...
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A peacock mantis shrimp out on the bottom in the Lembeh Strait pauses to peer at the photographer. Mantis shrimp are stomatopods, a type of crustacean and not actually related to either shrimp or mantoids (insects) but are named for their resemblance to both. Mantis shrimp are curious, active predators that hunt primarily using their excellent vision in the daytime. They are approachable and not particularly dangerous to divers, but care is still needed: Mantis shrimp are also called "thumb splitters" for their ability to inflict a deep wound if it feels a need to defend itself (easily penetrating a wetsuit or, rarely, a camera housing).
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