Odontodactylus scyllarus
Species of mantis shrimp
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Key Takeaways
- 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.
- scyllarus is one of the larger, more colourful mantis shrimps commonly seen, ranging in size from 3–18 cm (1.
- Their ability to see circularly polarised light has led to studies to determine if the mechanisms by which their eyes operate can be replicated for use in reading CDs and similar optical storage devices.
- The specific epithet scyllarus comes from Ancient Greek σκυλλαρος ( skullaros ), meaning 'hermit crab'.
- scyllarus is its hammer-like appendage, the dactyl club.
Odontodactylus scyllarus, commonly known as the peacock mantis shrimp, harlequin mantis shrimp, painted mantis shrimp, clown mantis shrimp, rainbow mantis shrimp, peacock odontodactyl, 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.
In the marine aquarium trade, it is both prized for its attractiveness and considered by others to be a dangerous pest.
Description
O. scyllarus is one of the larger, more colourful mantis shrimps commonly seen, ranging in size from 3–18 cm (1.2–7.1 in). They are primarily green with orange legs and leopard-like spots on the anterior carapace.
Their ability to see circularly polarised light has led to studies to determine if the mechanisms by which their eyes operate can be replicated for use in reading CDs and similar optical storage devices.
Etymology
The genus name Odontodactylus comes from Ancient Greek ὀδούς (odoús), meaning 'tooth', and δάκτυλος (dáktulos), meaning 'finger'. The specific epithet scyllarus comes from Ancient Greek σκυλλαρος (skullaros), meaning 'hermit crab'.
The dactyl club
One predatory adaptation of O. scyllarus is its hammer-like appendage, the dactyl club. This is the most electron-dense region of the stomatopod exoskeleton. Mechanically, the dactyl club is a spring-loaded weapon.
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