How Do Mantis Shrimp Break Glass? Vet-Approved Facts & Info
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The Mantis shrimp, also sometimes known as the Harlequin Mantis shrimp, or by its scientific name, Odontodactylus scyllarus, is quite the force of nature. It is one of the largest species of shrimp in the world and can grow up to 7 inches long. Mantis shrimp look like a mix between a praying mantis and a shrimp, mainly because of their elongated bodies and appendages resembling mantis arms.
The appendages on a Mantis shrimp aren’t used for cutting and crushing like a praying mantis. Instead, the appendages, called dactyl clubs, are used for smashing and battering. They attack shellfish until their shells are broken to feed on the soft insides.
A mantis shrimp’s dactyl clubs can accelerate at a speed of 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) and hit with 160 pounds of force, which is quite impressive and even makes them capable of breaking glass in some circumstances. For that very reason, smaller sea creatures usually try to steer clear of these shrimp.
How Mantis Shrimp Have The Ability To Break Through Glass
Mantis shrimp have been known to attack fingers, often breaking them when they score a solid strike. They are also known for smashing straight through aquarium glass. That is not something that many people expect until they walk in just in time to see the aquarium explode. This is very impressive, but how can a 7-inch-long creature smash through aquarium glass?
The Dactyl Clubs
The most apparent reason Mantis shrimps can smash through aquarium glass is their dactyl clubs, which they usually use to attack unsuspecting shellfish. Their clubs move at a very high speed, upwards of 50 miles per hour, and hit with a walloping 160 pounds of force. That alone sounds like more than enough to break aquarium glass, but the real secret is in the composition of the dactyl clubs.
The Kevlar-Like Build
The secret behind this tremendous power lies in the speed at which it can strike and in the composition of the clubs. Scientists have noted that if it were not for the unique composition of the dactyl clubs, they would almost certainly fracture and break on impact.
The outer layer of the dactyl club is made of hydroxyapatite, a rock-hard crystalline calcium-phosphate ceramic material. Scientists have performed many tests on this material and the clubs themselves and have found that it is stronger than any synthetic material humans can make. Under this outer layer lay several layers of polysaccharide chitosan, a highly elastic and flexible material.
This helps to absorb the impact that would otherwise be taken by the outer layer, which would most likely break without the elastic innards. Each inner layer is parallel to the other and is layered in an offset pattern at a slightly different angle than the preceding layer. This helps reduce the occurrence of fractures in the clubs, reduce the severity of fractures, and transfer impact energy to the victims of the strikes rather than to the clubs.
The outer layer of the clubs is also covered in chitosan fibers, which help hold them together even more while they are bashing away at a critter, your fingers, or aquarium glass. The outer layers of the Mantis shrimp’s clubs are so strong that scientists have recently begun studying how they could replace Kevlar and become the new bulletproof body armor.
Why Is My Mantis Shrimp Breaking My Aquarium Glass?
Since the Mantis shrimp thinks human fingers are marine animals invading their space, it’s easy to determine why they’re attacked. However, why they smash through aquarium glass is still mostly a mystery.
Some people say it’s because they see their reflection in the glass and thus become territorial and try to kill the “other” mantis shrimp. They may also see a threat outside the glass or something resembling a meal. Others say that the Mantis shrimp need much more space than most people give them, and they smash through the glass to get out of the tank.
Some scientists have even theorized that shrimp smash aquarium glass because they are testing their own capabilities while strengthening their clubs to be harder than ever. Compared to other marine life, the Mantis shrimp is incredibly aggressive.
Conclusion
Mantis shrimp are a force to be reckoned with. They love to kill and eat crabs, clams, and other crustaceans, and they certainly will not hesitate to attack your fingers and aquarium glass, too. Just be careful if you plan to have one of these in your home. Most aquarists recommend an acrylic aquarium as opposed to a glass one, as they tend to stand up to impacts much better.
Featured Image Credit: Maxfield Weakley, Shutterstock
