The mantis shrimp has such developed vision because they have very complex eyes called compound eyes, composed of thousands of ommatidia that allow them to detect movements and polarizations of light with great precision.
The eyes of mantis shrimp are among the most advanced in the animal kingdom. They can move their eyes independently of each other, giving them an ultra-wide, almost panoramic vision. Where it gets crazy is that they have up to 16 different types of photoreceptors, while we poor humans only have 3! This allows them to detect not only colors we can't even imagine but also the polarization of light. Each eye is composed of three separate regions, capable of processing the image independently. It's as if they had three pairs of eyes in a single eyeball. The result: a super fast and detailed analysis of everything that moves around them.
Mantis shrimp have up to 16 different types of photoreceptors, while humans only have three! Thanks to these multiple receptors, they can distinguish a much wider range of colors, particularly in the ultraviolet and infrared spectrum. This allows them to easily detect camouflaged prey or to clearly recognize their peers. They don't necessarily see colors with more precision than humans, but their brains analyze colors extremely quickly, without having to make an effort to decode each hue precisely. Essentially, they have a sort of super fast scanner to identify interesting elements around them without having to think for long.
Living underwater means dealing with a complicated visual environment: changing brightness, variable contrasts, and constant reflections. Mantis shrimps thrive in a particularly colorful and complex marine setting, such as coral reefs or rocky areas where every shade may conceal a predator or potential prey. Their highly sophisticated vision, capable of detecting a wide range of colors and perceiving polarized light, allows them to navigate effectively through this visually overloaded universe. The more cluttered the scenery is with shapes and colors, the better the eyes need to be to clearly distinguish what is happening around them. By developing this extreme visual skill, mantis shrimps optimize their ability to react quickly to threats and to snatch their prey on the fly, all while instantly noticing subtle changes in their underwater environment.
To hunt, the mantis shrimp fully exploits its incredible eyes. Their vision is so precise that they detect the slightest movement and even the subtlest nuances of their environment. Thanks to this formidable precision, they quickly spot their prey, even those that camouflage themselves among the corals or in the sand. This ultra-rapid detection allows them to execute their famous lightning attacks, among the fastest and most powerful in the animal kingdom. In short, their super predator eyes provide a crucial advantage to catch their victims before they realize what is happening to them.
Mantis shrimps have an extremely rare vision: they can perceive the polarization of light. In simple terms, polarized light is a light wave that vibrates in a specific orientation — somewhat like looking through very sharp polarized glasses. These animals detect these particular visual signals to communicate discreetly with each other, without their predators or prey noticing. In short, their vision acts like a private secret channel. Specific parts of their bodies reflect polarized light, producing light signals for other mantis shrimps that are invisible to almost all other marine eyes. It's like the encrypted messaging of the ocean.
Some researchers are inspired by the eyes of mantis shrimp to develop new technologies, such as hyperspectral cameras or optical systems designed to detect cancerous cells.
The eyes of mantis shrimp move independently of each other. This allows them to simultaneously monitor their environment while remaining still, thereby increasing their chances of spotting prey or a predator.
Thanks to their perception of polarized light, these crustaceans can communicate discreetly with each other. They send invisible signals to other marine species, somewhat like an underwater secret language!
The vision of mantis shrimp is so fine that it even allows them to distinguish living tissues with different optical properties, such as the muscles or nerves of their prey, thereby enhancing their formidable precision during an attack.
Polarized vision means that mantis shrimp can detect the orientation of polarized light. This allows them to more easily spot transparent or semi-transparent prey, as well as communicate discreetly with their peers without being detected by predators.
Thanks to their independent eyes capable of rotating separately, mantis shrimp can precisely locate the distance, size, and rapid movements of their prey. This exceptional vision provides them with great efficiency in attacking and capturing their victims with speed and accuracy.
Mantis shrimp can indeed detect ultraviolet light, which greatly broadens their visual spectrum. However, they do not perceive infrared.
An extremely advanced vision allows mantis shrimp to be formidable predators in their complex marine environment. This facilitates the effective capture of fast prey while also enabling better communication and enhanced defense against their own predators.
Mantis shrimp are capable of perceiving up to 12 distinct channels of color, compared to only 3 for humans. This ability gives them one of the most complex and nuanced visions in the animal kingdom.
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