Photo: Silke Baron
This crustacean is not only amazingly colourful, it can detect more colours than any living thing. Most humans are trichromatic, meaning they have three cones in their eyes to help them see colour. The mantis shrimp has 12-16 colour-receptive cones. Through eyes that work independently of each other, they have the ability to view things in infrared, ultraviolet and polarized light.
Before you run out to buy one of these beauties to add to your aquarium, be forewarned – they are very dangerous. Mantis shrimp attack their prey with a punch that has been clocked at 50 m.p.h. or the same speed as a .22-caliber bullet. Beauty can be deceiving.