We reveal a fascinating insight into evolution’s optical wonders
We explore how mantis shrimp’s eyes redefine our understanding of visual perception
Why are mantis shrimp eyes so special?
Mantis shrimp are famous for two things. First, they pack a tremendous punch, wielding clubs on the end of their front limbs that can accelerate as fast as a bullet in a gun barrel. Second, they possess what are widely regarded as the most complex eyes of any animal.
As with many st, mantis shrimp sport a pair of compound eyes on stalks. And, like those of flies, they are composed of thousands of ommatidia – individual lenses and retinas that each sample a tiny area of the field of view.
But mantis shrimp eyes are capable of rotating independently and in three dimensions like angle-poise lamps. They can also perceive distance using a single eye, because multiple ommatidia focus on the same point.
What does the world look like from the eyes of a mantis shrimp?
With as many as 16 types of colour-sensitive cone cells in their retinas (humans have three), their colour vision capabilities surpass those of any other animal.
They can also detect the polarisation of light (the plane in which it vibrates) and they are unique in being able to detect circular polarised light (the direction in which it spins).
Little is known about how the shrimp use all this information. One theory is that it allows them to communicate visually on channels undetectable by predators.
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Our experts have compiled guides to the eyes of other creatures, including how do animals see, why do dragon and damselflies have such big eyes and why do horseflies have such pretty eyes?