Critter of the Week: The Mantis Shrimp

From Afternoons, 3:35 pm on 11 June 2021

This week’s critter is the Mantis Shrimp. Mantis shrimp are undoubtedly one of the coolest and scariest creatures alive. Heterosquilla tricarinata is a native species of mantis shrimp no bigger than your index finger—which, incidentally, it could shred if you touched it. It’s no surprise that these little critters are sometimes called ‘thumb splitters’.

Female mantis shrimp, aka Heterosquilla tricarinata.

Female mantis shrimp, aka Heterosquilla tricarinata. Photo: supplied

Get the RNZ app

for easy access to all your favourite programmes

Subscribe to Afternoons

Podcast (MP3) Oggcast (Vorbis)