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What the sources say

Peacock Mantis ShrimpOdontodactylus scyllarus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Peacock Mantis Shrimp profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 41 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Patek, Korff & Caldwell 2004

Patek, Korff & Caldwell (2004). Deadly strike mechanism of a mantis shrimp. Nature.

The page saysResearchers found that this species makes an extremely fast strike by storing energy in a saddle-shaped exoskeletal spring, then releasing it
The source saysthe peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) generates an extremely fast strike that requires major energy storage and release, which we explain in terms of a saddle-shaped exoskeletal spring mechanism
The page sayswhich are vapor bubbles that form next to the prey when the appendage moves swiftly toward it
The source saysHigh-speed images reveal the formation and collapse of vapour bubbles next to the prey due to swift movement of the appendage towards it

Source
02

Patek & Caldwell 2005

Patek & Caldwell (2005). Extreme impact and cavitation forces of a biological hammer: strike forces of the peacock mantis shrimp Odontodactylus scyllarus. Journal of Experimental Biology.

The page saysa shrimp whose every shell-breaking strike hits twice, two force peaks typically less than half a millisecond apart: the club's impact, then the collapse of the cavitation bubbles it leaves behind
The source sayseach strike generates two brief, high-amplitude force peaks, typically 390-480 micros apart. Based on high-speed imaging, force measurements and acoustic analyses, it is evident that the first force peak is caused by the limb's impact and the second force peak is due to the collapse of cavitation bubbles
The page sayswhose club strike hits twice: once with the limb, then again with collapsing bubbles
The source sayseach strike generates two brief, high-amplitude force peaks ... the first force peak is caused by the limb's impact and the second force peak is due to the collapse of cavitation bubbles
The page saysA club strike that hits twice
The source sayseach strike generates two brief, high-amplitude force peaks
The page saysEach strike lands two blows
The source sayseach strike generates two brief, high-amplitude force peaks
The page saysThere are two force peaks, typically 390-480 microseconds apart
The source saystwo brief, high-amplitude force peaks, typically 390-480 micros apart
The page saysThe first is the limb hitting. The second is the collapse of cavitation bubbles
The source saysthe first force peak is caused by the limb's impact and the second force peak is due to the collapse of cavitation bubbles
The page saysLimb impact peaks between 400 and 1501 newtons
The source saysPeak limb impact forces range from 400 to 1501 N
The page saysDespite its small size, this shrimp can generate impact forces thousands of times its body weight
The source saysDespite their small size, O. scyllarus can generate impact forces thousands of times their body weight
The page saysCavitation forces peak at 504 newtons, and on average they reach about half of the limb's own impact force
The source sayspeak cavitation forces reach 504 N ... on average, cavitation peak forces are 50% of the limb's impact force
The page saysIn some strikes they exceed the limb impact by up to 280%
The source sayscavitation forces may exceed the limb impact forces by up to 280%
The page saysThe authors suggest the two blows together fracture shells
The source sayssuggests that mantis shrimp use a potent combination of cavitation forces and extraordinarily high impact forces to fracture shells

Source
03

Weaver et al. 2012

Weaver et al. (2012). The Stomatopod Dactyl Club: A Formidable Damage-Tolerant Biological Hammer. Science.

The page saysThe club is hypermineralized, with minerals combined with a helicoidal chitin matrix
The source sayshypermineralized hammer-like dactyl clubs ... Consisting of a multiphase composite of oriented crystalline hydroxyapatite and amorphous calcium phosphate and carbonate, in conjunction with a highly expanded helicoidal organization of the fibrillar chitinous organic matrix
The page saysTogether they give it several lines of defense against catastrophic failure during repeated high-energy impacts
The source saysin conjunction with a highly expanded helicoidal organization of the fibrillar chitinous organic matrix, these structures display several effective lines of defense against catastrophic failure during repetitive high-energy loading events

Source
04

Thoen et al. 2014

Thoen et al. (2014). A Different Form of Color Vision in Mantis Shrimp. Science.

The page saysSome mantis shrimp species have 12 different types, sampling wavelengths from deep ultraviolet to far red (300 to 720 nanometers)
The source sayssome of which have 12 different photoreceptor types, each sampling a narrow set of wavelengths ranging from deep ultraviolet to far red (300 to 720 nanometers)
The page saysSome mantis shrimp species have 12 photoreceptor types
The source sayssome of which have 12 different photoreceptor types
The page sayswhen researchers tested how well stomatopods tell wavelengths apart, they did surprisingly poorly
The source saysBehavioral wavelength discrimination tests (Δλ functions) in stomatopods revealed a surprisingly poor performance
The page saysTheir experiments suggest a system that recognizes colors rather than comparing them finely
The source saysour experiments suggest that stomatopods use a previously unknown color vision system based on temporal signaling combined with scanning eye movements, enabling a type of color recognition rather than discrimination

Source
05

Chiou et al. 2008

Chiou et al. (2008). Circular Polarization Vision in a Stomatopod Crustacean. Current Biology.

The page saysSome stomatopods can also detect circularly polarized light
The source saysin stomatopod crustaceans, we describe for the first time a visual system capable of detecting and analyzing circularly polarized light

Source
06

Daly et al. 2016

Daly et al. (2016). Dynamic polarization vision in mantis shrimps. Nature Communications.

The page sayseyes that rotate to read polarized light
The source saysBoth Gonodactylus smithii and Odontodactylus scyllarus rotate their eyes to align particular photoreceptors relative to the angle of polarization of a linearly polarized visual stimulus
The page saysThis species rotates its eyes to line up its photoreceptors with the angle of linearly polarized light
The source saysBoth Gonodactylus smithii and Odontodactylus scyllarus rotate their eyes to align particular photoreceptors relative to the angle of polarization of a linearly polarized visual stimulus
The page saysThat maximizes the polarization contrast between an object and its background
The source saysthereby maximizing the polarization contrast between an object of interest and its background

Source
07

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Odontodactylus scyllarus. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysIndo-Pacific reefs, often in U-shaped burrows on sandy and gravelly ground near coral bases
The source saysfound in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, south of Japan, north of Australia, and between eastern Africa and Guam. ... most commonly found in their U-shaped burrows, often built near the bases of coral reefs on sandy and gravelly areas
The page saysGastropods, crustaceans and bivalves, with crabs the preferred prey
The source saysprey items include gastropods, crustaceans, and bivalves ... crabs are their preferred prey
The page saysNot Evaluated
The source saysPeacock mantis shrimp have not been evaluated by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, but are not considered endangered or threatened by any agency. IUCN Red List Not EvaluatedNote: Not assessed: GBIF's copy of the Red List returns no category for Odontodactylus scyllarus and Crossref has no 10.2305 assessment DOI for the name (prefetch 2026-09-29).
The page saysThe peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) is very brightly colored
The source saysThey are very brightly colored
The page saysIts body is olive or green, its antenna scales are bright orange, and its smashing limbs are red
The source saysa base body color of olive or green, brightly covered orange antennae scales, red raptorial appendages (used to smash prey)
The page saysThese shrimp average 3-18 cm in length
The source saysThese mantis shrimp average 3-18 cm in length
The page saysIt lives in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, south of Japan, north of Australia, and between eastern Africa and Guam
The source saysPeacock mantis shrimp are found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, south of Japan, north of Australia, and between eastern Africa and Guam
The page saysIt is most commonly found in a U-shaped burrow, often built near the base of a coral reef on sandy and gravelly ground
The source saysmost commonly found in their U-shaped burrows, often built near the bases of coral reefs on sandy and gravelly areas
The page saysThis shrimp is a carnivore. Prey includes gastropods, crustaceans and bivalves, and crabs are the preferred meal
The source saysPeacock mantis shrimp are carnivorous; prey items include gastropods, crustaceans, and bivalves. ... although crabs are their preferred prey
The page saysIt uses the club to break open shells
The source saysusing their rapptorial appendages as described above to break open their prey's shell
The page saysKept in aquaria, it can break the glass
The source saysthey are capable of breaking aquarium glass
The page saysIt is known to be territorial. Individuals strike each other's tail areas, and the telson is the most heavily armored part of the body
The source saysPeacock mantis shrimp are known to be territorial, with individuals using their powerful smashers to strike each others' tail areas; for this reason, the telson is the most heavily armored part of their bodies
The page saysIt does not have many known predators, though it has been found in the stomachs of yellowfin tuna
The source saysPeacock mantis shrimp do not have many known predators; they have, however, been found in the stomachs of yellowfin tuna
The page saysIn the burrow, it may use vibrations called stomatopod rumbles to warn off predators or others of its kind
The source saysindividuals may create vibrations while in their burrows, warning potential predators or other conspecifics to keep their distance
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web says they are known to crack the glass of their tanks and are known to be aggressive to other animals kept with them
The source saysthese mantis shrimp have been known to crack the glass of their tanks ... are known to be aggressive to other animals kept with them
The page saysThe web account also gives the punch's limb impact as 400 to 1501 newtons
The source saysone from the impact of the limb itself (400-1501 Newtons)
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web puts them at depths of 3-40 m, though they are most typically found at 10-30 m, in water of 22-28°C
The source saysfound at depths of 3-40 m, though they are most typically found at depths of 10-30 m. They prefer water temperatures of 22-28°C
The page saysdangerLevel: Medium
The source saysWhen kept in aquaria, these mantis shrimp have been known to crack the glass of their tanks.Note: Task #974: Deadly ('Capable of killing a human') had no source. The strike (400 to 1501 N, Patek & Caldwell 2005) is a real weapon, but no cached source records a human injury, let alone a death, so Medium: 'Can injure, but rarely seriously'.

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.