image credit: ocean.nationalgeographic.com

peacock shrimp, mantis shrimpimage credit: oceanleadership.org

peacock shrimp, mantis shrimpimage credit: scottpenny.smugmug.com

mantis shrimp, peacock shrimpimage credit: thekaufenchoke.wordpress.com

mantis shrimp, peacock shrimpimage credit: slices-of-life.com
Habitat: Indo-Pacific Oceans, from Guam to East Africa

Ok so coming from such a brightly colored, beautiful shrimp as the Peacock Mantis Shrimp, you’d probably be thinking it has a sweet demeanor to match its lovely clothing. It’s like when you see a supermodel dressed to the nines in designer fashion, you typically wouldn’t expect to see her in a boxing match wailing on her opponent until he’s dead. Well, unless you’re thinking of Tyra Banks, then that shit is not only plausible, but has probably already happened. We already know she’s capable of giving a good verbal beatdown.’

Anyways, back to the Peacock Mantis Shrimp. Looks sure are deceiving here because this guy is what’s known as a smasher, with club shaped raptorial appendages that it uses to repeatedly smash its prey until it can gain access to the soft tissue for consumption.

It is reported to have a “punch” of over 50mph. The fastest punch of any living animal.

Moral of the story: Tyra Banks and the Peacock Mantis Shrimp should hang out.