Spearers And Spearers (Vighna)
Hunting Behavior of Spearers and Smashers (Vighna)
Spearers and smashers utilize their raptorial appendages in different ways due to differences in the morphology of their dactyl. Through observations, it can be concluded that dismemberment is primarily how the mantis shrimp kills its prey. It attacks other animals, either by smashing or spearing, and then tears them apart. Spearers have a slim, flat, blade-like propodus and a dactyl armed with 2-17 barbs or spikes. The raptorial appendage is designed for speed, and slices through water within 3 to 4 milliseconds. They are ambush predators that seize prey by explosively extending the open dactyl spines of the raptorial appendage into the prey. The leading edge of the propodus frequently bears …show more content…
Compared to the spearers, the merus of the second thoracopod in the smashers is larger. Thus, it contains a more powerful muscle mass to power the strike. Also, the stout propodus is better able to withstand the forces generated on impact. The massive dactyl is usually unarmed, terminating in a sharp tip and has a highly calcified, inflated heel, which bears the brunt of the strike. The strike is usually delivered with the dactyl folded tightly against the propodus or the heel. The strike can reach speeds of 23 m/s or 50 mph from a standing start and with acceleration close to 102,000 m/s2, which is comparable to a .22 caliber bullet. To put this in perspective, if human beings could accelerate our arms at 1/10th that speed, we’d be able to throw a ball into …show more content…
They are able to recognize individual neighbors with whom they frequently interact. They can also recognize them by visual signs and even by individual smell. The complex eyes of the mantis shrimp help enable them to recognize different types of coral, prey species (often having a transparent or semi-transparent appearance), or predators such as barracudas, which have shimmering scales (Cronin et al., 2006). Mantis shrimp are quite strategic when it comes to their hunting tactic. They either wait for prey to chance upon them, or, unlike most crustaceans, actually hunt, chase and kill prey. This manner in which they hunt suggests that they may require very accurate ranging information, which in turn would require accurate depth
Spearers and smashers utilize their raptorial appendages in different ways due to differences in the morphology of their dactyl. Through observations, it can be concluded that dismemberment is primarily how the mantis shrimp kills its prey. It attacks other animals, either by smashing or spearing, and then tears them apart. Spearers have a slim, flat, blade-like propodus and a dactyl armed with 2-17 barbs or spikes. The raptorial appendage is designed for speed, and slices through water within 3 to 4 milliseconds. They are ambush predators that seize prey by explosively extending the open dactyl spines of the raptorial appendage into the prey. The leading edge of the propodus frequently bears …show more content…
Compared to the spearers, the merus of the second thoracopod in the smashers is larger. Thus, it contains a more powerful muscle mass to power the strike. Also, the stout propodus is better able to withstand the forces generated on impact. The massive dactyl is usually unarmed, terminating in a sharp tip and has a highly calcified, inflated heel, which bears the brunt of the strike. The strike is usually delivered with the dactyl folded tightly against the propodus or the heel. The strike can reach speeds of 23 m/s or 50 mph from a standing start and with acceleration close to 102,000 m/s2, which is comparable to a .22 caliber bullet. To put this in perspective, if human beings could accelerate our arms at 1/10th that speed, we’d be able to throw a ball into …show more content…
They are able to recognize individual neighbors with whom they frequently interact. They can also recognize them by visual signs and even by individual smell. The complex eyes of the mantis shrimp help enable them to recognize different types of coral, prey species (often having a transparent or semi-transparent appearance), or predators such as barracudas, which have shimmering scales (Cronin et al., 2006). Mantis shrimp are quite strategic when it comes to their hunting tactic. They either wait for prey to chance upon them, or, unlike most crustaceans, actually hunt, chase and kill prey. This manner in which they hunt suggests that they may require very accurate ranging information, which in turn would require accurate depth