DAT ASS.
Peacock Mantis Shrimp. By: Joris van Alphen Photography
A peacock mantis shrimp, Odontodactylus scyllarus (also known as the harlequin mantis shrimp or painted mantis shrimp). Seeing one always makes me laugh inside a little, because they move in such a peculiar way.
Mantis shrimp (neither mantid nor shrimp) have spectacular vision. For instance, they see the world in 11 or 12 primary colours (compared to our three), from the ultraviolet through to the infrared. Their compound eyes can move independently from each other and can even simultaneously detect four linear and two circular polarisations.
Circular polarisation is extremely rare in nature, and the reason for mantis shrimp being able to detect it is yet unknown. However, it is likely used in sexual and other social signalling, and may allow them to more easily detect the prey they like to eat. Some of these prey are transparent and hard to see for us, but contain lots of polarising sugars, so they probably stand out clearly for mantis shrimp.
Otters have long, slim bodies and relatively short limbs, with webbed paws. Most have sharp claws on their feet, and all except the sea otter have long muscular tails.
Slow, silent, and slender, but not necessarily small - the goblin shark can be as long as a small car - about 12.6 feet (3.85 meters). Only a few goblin sharks have ever been found. Except for one small one 3.5 feet, the rest ranged from from 10 to 12.6 feet. The largest found weight 463 pounds (210kg)
Though only less than 50 have been found, it seems they may be found in many of the world’s oceans. They’ve been found off the coast of Japan, Australia, California, the Atlantic near Portugal, South Africa…and other places. Goblin sharks thrive in the dark deep sea at depths between 885 feet (270m) and 3149 feet (960m), one as deep as 4265 feet (1,300m).
