Creature Feature: Scaly-Tailed Mantis Shrimp
Creature Feature: Scaly Tailed Mantis Shrimp
This week’s Creature Feature is one of the fastest strikers in the sea, and has the most advanced eyes in the animal kingdom. The Scaly-Tailed Mantis Shrimp is found in the waters off the Atlantic Coast, Caribbean, and Bahamian waters. The animals waits in self man burrow in the sand near wrecks and reefs. Mantis have over 16 photo receptors in their compound eyes allowing them to see a Huge spectrum of light. Their powerful claws move so fast that they can form cavitation bubbles that produce light and sound.
Scientific name: Lysiosquilla scabricauda
- Size: Up to 0.3M (12 inches)
- Location: Atlantic, Florida, Bahamas, and Caribbean Waters
Photography Tip:
This animals can be extremely cautions when approached by divers. When startled the may retreat within their burrow until the diver leaves the area. To capture great footage of a mantis shrimp use a lens with a greater focal length such as the Canon 100m. Another option is to place your camera rig on a tripod picking a focus point on the burrow, then swim away and let the mantis expose itself.
Gear Recommendation:
JOBY GorillaPod, Canon EF 100m f2.8L IS USM Macro Lens
Trouble ID’ing fish from your last dive? Pick up a copy of REEF Fish Identification – Florida Caribbean Bahamas
Want to improve your underwater Digital Development? Try Adobe Lightroom and enroll in my next tutorial course!
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