Arthropod
Morphology
They aren't true shrimp. The peacock mantis shrimp displays bilateral symmetry. It is very colorful, it has shades of green, orange, red, and blue. Its forearms are covered with spots. Also, it has huge eyes and has a flat carapace that leaves the sides of the thorax exposed and doesn't even cover the last four thoraic segments. Their size range from 3 to 18 centimeters in length.
They aren't true shrimp. The peacock mantis shrimp displays bilateral symmetry. It is very colorful, it has shades of green, orange, red, and blue. Its forearms are covered with spots. Also, it has huge eyes and has a flat carapace that leaves the sides of the thorax exposed and doesn't even cover the last four thoraic segments. Their size range from 3 to 18 centimeters in length.
Biology
The peacock mantis shrimp has eyes that sit on mobile stalks that will allow them to search for food and escape from predators. Their eye design allows them to see objects with three different parts of the same eye. They have very powerful claws that are hammer-like and they can kill their prey with the acceleration of a 0.22-caliber bullet. They could even crack the shell of a clam.
The peacock mantis shrimp has eyes that sit on mobile stalks that will allow them to search for food and escape from predators. Their eye design allows them to see objects with three different parts of the same eye. They have very powerful claws that are hammer-like and they can kill their prey with the acceleration of a 0.22-caliber bullet. They could even crack the shell of a clam.
Location The peacock mantis shrimp is found in the Indo-Pacific ocean, south of Japan, north of Australia, and between eastern Africa and Guam. Their habitat regions are tropical and saltwater. They prefer water temperatures of 22-28 degrees celsius and are more commonly found in their U-shaped burrows. |
Importance
Ecological: They constantly create new burrows and abandon the old ones which create new habitats for other animals.
Economical: There's small market for eating peacock mantis shrimp in some Asian countries.
Ecological: They constantly create new burrows and abandon the old ones which create new habitats for other animals.
Economical: There's small market for eating peacock mantis shrimp in some Asian countries.
Facts
~ The peacock mantis shrimp has 16 color-receptive cones ~ There are 400 species of mantis shrimp worldwide ~ Their limbs move so quickly the water around them boils ~ Mantis shrimp are able to recognize their neighbors just by the smell and morphological characteristics ~ They can survive more than 20 years in the wild |
Vocabulary
True Shrimp- A small free-swimming crustacean with an elongated body, typically marine and frequently harvested for food.
Bilateral Symmetry- A basic body plan in which the left and right sides of the organism can be divided into approximate mirror images of each other along the midline.
Saltwater- Water containing a large amount of salt.
Burrows- A hole or tunnel dug by a small animal.
Habitats- The natural homes of an animal, plant, or other organism.
True Shrimp- A small free-swimming crustacean with an elongated body, typically marine and frequently harvested for food.
Bilateral Symmetry- A basic body plan in which the left and right sides of the organism can be divided into approximate mirror images of each other along the midline.
Saltwater- Water containing a large amount of salt.
Burrows- A hole or tunnel dug by a small animal.
Habitats- The natural homes of an animal, plant, or other organism.
Resources
http://www.aqua.org/explore/animals/mantis-shrimp
http://oceana.org/en/explore/marine-wildlife/peacock-mantis-shrimp
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Odontodactylus_scyllarus/
http://www.aqua.org/explore/animals/mantis-shrimp
http://oceana.org/en/explore/marine-wildlife/peacock-mantis-shrimp
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Odontodactylus_scyllarus/
Echinoderm
Morphology
The crown of thorns is pentamerically symmetrical. It has a central disk and radiating arms. It has long, sharp, venomous spines on its body. The spines on the aboral surface are cylindrical with sharp tips. The spines on the oral surface are flat which bend over to cover the mouth and the ambulacral grooves when those soft parts are stimulated. The crown of thorns come in various colors.
The crown of thorns is pentamerically symmetrical. It has a central disk and radiating arms. It has long, sharp, venomous spines on its body. The spines on the aboral surface are cylindrical with sharp tips. The spines on the oral surface are flat which bend over to cover the mouth and the ambulacral grooves when those soft parts are stimulated. The crown of thorns come in various colors.
Biology
The crown of thorns have elongated spines which increase protection, the spines contain venoms such as saponins and plancitoxin 1. The spiny plates on the endoskeleton that are composed of calcium carbonate can combine to form a lattice which can increase strength, reduce weight, and could probably even act as camouflage.
The crown of thorns have elongated spines which increase protection, the spines contain venoms such as saponins and plancitoxin 1. The spiny plates on the endoskeleton that are composed of calcium carbonate can combine to form a lattice which can increase strength, reduce weight, and could probably even act as camouflage.
Importance
Ecological: They have the ability to destroy entire coral reefs during outbreaks. They feed on the coral polyps who are the ones who create the reefs.
Economical: Can be sold as souvenirs in some places.
Ecological: They have the ability to destroy entire coral reefs during outbreaks. They feed on the coral polyps who are the ones who create the reefs.
Economical: Can be sold as souvenirs in some places.
Vocabulary
Ambulacral- Any of the radial areas of echinoderms.
Venoms- A poisonous substance.
Endoskeleton- An internal skeleton or framework of the body of an animal.
Souvenirs- A thing that is kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event.
Nocturnal Animals- They are animals that are more active at night than during the day.
Ambulacral- Any of the radial areas of echinoderms.
Venoms- A poisonous substance.
Endoskeleton- An internal skeleton or framework of the body of an animal.
Souvenirs- A thing that is kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event.
Nocturnal Animals- They are animals that are more active at night than during the day.