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Smashing mantis shrimp strategically impact shells.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Crane, RL; Cox, SM; Kisare, SA; Patek, SN
Published in: The Journal of experimental biology
June 2018

Many predators fracture strong mollusk shells, requiring specialized weaponry and behaviors. The current shell fracture paradigm is based on jaw- and claw-based predators that slowly apply forces (high impulse, low peak force). However, predators also strike shells with transient intense impacts (low impulse, high peak force). Toward the goal of incorporating impact fracture strategies into the prevailing paradigm, we measured how mantis shrimp (Neogonodactylus bredini) impact snail shells, tested whether they strike shells in different locations depending on prey shape (Nerita spp., Cenchritis muricatus, Cerithium spp.) and deployed a physical model (Ninjabot) to test the effectiveness of strike locations. We found that, contrary to their formidable reputation, mantis shrimp struck shells tens to hundreds of times while targeting distinct shell locations. They consistently struck the aperture of globular shells and changed from the aperture to the apex of high-spired shells. Ninjabot tests revealed that mantis shrimp avoid strike locations that cause little damage and that reaching the threshold for eating soft tissue is increasingly difficult as fracture progresses. Their ballistic strategy requires feed-forward control, relying on extensive pre-strike set-up, unlike jaw- and claw-based strategies that can use real-time neural feedback when crushing. However, alongside this pre-processing cost to impact fracture comes the ability to circumvent gape limits and thus process larger prey. In sum, mantis shrimp target specific shell regions, alter their strategy depending on shell shape, and present a model system for studying the physics and materials of impact fracture in the context of the rich evolutionary history of predator-prey interactions.

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Published In

The Journal of experimental biology

DOI

EISSN

1477-9145

ISSN

0022-0949

Publication Date

June 2018

Volume

221

Issue

Pt 11

Start / End Page

jeb176099

Related Subject Headings

  • Species Specificity
  • Snails
  • Predatory Behavior
  • Physiology
  • Food Chain
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Crustacea
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Animals
  • Animal Shells
 

Citation

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Crane, R. L., Cox, S. M., Kisare, S. A., & Patek, S. N. (2018). Smashing mantis shrimp strategically impact shells. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 221(Pt 11), jeb176099. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.176099
Crane, R. L., S. M. Cox, S. A. Kisare, and S. N. Patek. “Smashing mantis shrimp strategically impact shells.The Journal of Experimental Biology 221, no. Pt 11 (June 2018): jeb176099. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.176099.
Crane RL, Cox SM, Kisare SA, Patek SN. Smashing mantis shrimp strategically impact shells. The Journal of experimental biology. 2018 Jun;221(Pt 11):jeb176099.
Crane, R. L., et al. “Smashing mantis shrimp strategically impact shells.The Journal of Experimental Biology, vol. 221, no. Pt 11, June 2018, p. jeb176099. Epmc, doi:10.1242/jeb.176099.
Crane RL, Cox SM, Kisare SA, Patek SN. Smashing mantis shrimp strategically impact shells. The Journal of experimental biology. 2018 Jun;221(Pt 11):jeb176099.
Journal cover image

Published In

The Journal of experimental biology

DOI

EISSN

1477-9145

ISSN

0022-0949

Publication Date

June 2018

Volume

221

Issue

Pt 11

Start / End Page

jeb176099

Related Subject Headings

  • Species Specificity
  • Snails
  • Predatory Behavior
  • Physiology
  • Food Chain
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Crustacea
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Animals
  • Animal Shells