Peacock Mantis Shrimp
•I am always on the lookout for remarkable animals, and the Peacock Mantis Shrimp is a truly bizarre specimen.
This crustacean lives 40 metres below sea level. It has the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom and scientists still don’t know why they work the way they do.
Where we have 3 colour receptive cones in our eyes, they have up to 16 and can see 10 times more hues than we can, including UV light.
So not only are they multicoloured marvels, they see colours we can’t even dream of.
Just think how beautiful they must be to each other.
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(They can also see something called circularly polarised light. I still have no idea what that means. I looked it up and didn’t understand a word…)
One thing is clear though, they are certainly not just a pretty face. These sublimely tough little monsters have a punch so hard it can smash aquarium glass.
Jail break!
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The force they use is comparable to that of a bullet. They kill their prey by striking out with their super strong appendages. They can hit their prey directly but even if they don’t, the water cavitation they cause makes the water around them boil and creates shock waves that stun their victim.
Game over man, game over.
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I really enjoyed drawing this critter. Some illustrations come easier than others and this one just flowed.
I had to add a black background to truly show off the magnificent colours.
If you have any of the Peacock Mantis Shrimp products in your home I would love to see a picture. Seeing my work in real dwellings never gets old.
The original for this piece is still available for £150 complete with frame, that's if I can bear to let it go!
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I always get a thrill when someone is drawn to this curious crustacean. When someone can see their beauty just as I do. Maybe some people have magic eyes like the Peacock Mantis Shrimp does.
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