When asked which of Earth’s many creatures packs the most powerful punch, one might assume it would come from the clenched fist of the staggeringly strong silverback gorilla, or maybe from an animal with incredible bone density – but in reality, the title for Earth’s mightiest punch comes in a surprisingly small package, proving size really doesn’t matter.
Adorned with a dazzling rainbow display and incredible eyes that are capable of seeing both infrared and ultraviolet light, mantis shrimp are more than just a pretty face. Consisting of more than 400 different species, mantis shrimp hunting techniques fall into two groups – “spearers” and “smashers” – the latter of which utilize an astonishing punching superpower.
Despite being called “shrimps”, mantis shrimps are actually in the order Stomatopod. Distant relatives of true shrimps, this crustacean order is comprised of just the different mantis shrimp species that spear and smash their prey.
While “spearers” capture fish using large spikes at the end of their arms, “smashers” use their arms to crush the shells of crabs and other shellfish. Moving at roughly 23 meters per second (75 feet per second) which is the same acceleration as a 22-caliber bullet, these “smashers” inflict a force of 1,500 newtons per punch, concaving the shells of any beasty unlucky enough to be in their path.
This peacock mantis shrimp is way tougher than it looks.
Image credit: John A. Anderson / Shutterstock.com
In fact, despite measuring between just 1 and 30 centimeters (0.4-12 inches), they punch with such speed and force that they create a flash of light and a loud burst of sound.
New research into the mantis shrimp’s ability to mitigate self-inflected damage during these attacks has found that their fists are covered in patterns that selectively filter out these sounds by blocking vibrations. These filters prevent mantis shrimps from being damaged by their own powerful punches.
Mantis shrimp administer their fatal blows using “spring-actuated systems” rather than muscles, similar to the mechanism locusts and fleas use to jump. Interestingly, they only perform these impressive moves while underwater.
Research from 2020 set out to test their strength just above the water’s surface and found that the punches released at roughly half the speed they did while underwater. The reason for this is thought to be related to the shrimp potentially injuring itself if the punch force is not dissipated by the water’s drag.
With the reported ability to shatter bulletproof glass and leave the researchers studying them bleeding, you don’t want to mess with these deceptively beautiful punching machines.
