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Animal World
Peacock Mantis Shrimp — photograph 1
📷 Wikimedia Commons · Free License
IUCN: Least Concern

Peacock Mantis Shrimp

Odontodactylus scyllarus

KingdomAnimalia›PhylumArthropoda›ClassMalacostraca›OrderStomatopoda›FamilyOdontodactylidae›GenusOdontodactylus
About

Odontodactylus scyllarus, commonly known as the peacock mantis shrimp, harlequin mantis shrimp, painted mantis shrimp, clown mantis shrimp, rainbow mantis shrimp, peacock odontodactyl, thumb splitter, or simply mantis shrimp, is a large odontodactylid stomatopod native to the epipelagic seabed across the Indo-Pacific, ranging from the Marianas to East Africa, and as far South as Northern KwaZulu Natal in South Africa. It is one of roughly 480 species of mantis shrimp, which are well known for their raptorial claws, exceptional vision, and their unique way of interacting with other marine species.

Key Facts
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Habitat
Shallow tropical reefs, sandy and rubble bottoms
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Diet
Carnivore — hard-shelled prey: snails, crabs, clams, oysters
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Size & Weight
18–38 cm
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Lifespan
3–6 years
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Range
Indo-Pacific — East Africa to Hawaii
InvertebrateCrustacean
Photo Credits
#1Wikimedia Commons · Free License
#2Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
#3Jens Petersen · CC BY 2.5
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