| type | Status | Habitat |
 |
 |
 |
|
ARTHROPODS |
STABLE |
PACIFIC ISLAND |
 The vast majority of species live in the Pacific or the Indian Ocean, primarily between Africa and Hawaii. |
 Mantis shrimp eat live fish, crabs, worms and shrimp, including other mantis shrimp. They are aggressive, violent predator, using their sharp claws to spear or slice through prey with a quick, slashing motion. |
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Generally, mantis shrimp fit into one of two categories: smashers, and spearers. These categories divide them by what type of predatory claw they use to kill prey.
The speed that these shrimp can strike their prey is simply astounding. They hold their claws folded up to their bodies, but they unfold and strike with appalling speed. These creatures can hit prey at speeds of approximately 51 miles per hour!
As the names might suggest, smashers smash the prey, while spearers spear the prey. Smasher mantis shrimps have a club-like appendage with mineral deposits. This makes their claw almost like a hammer, and they use this to smash or whack their prey. Spearers have a pointed claw that they use to stab prey.