History Of The Mantis Shrimp
Called "sea locusts" by ancient Assyrians, "prawn killers" in Australia and now sometimes referred to as "thumb splitters" – because of the animal's ability to inflict painful gashes if handled incautiously Stomatopods are commonly called "mantis shrimp" for an obvious reason. Despite their importance to reef communities, little is known about them. We do know that they have a rather long fossil record that dates back 400 million years. Such a long fossil record helps researchers understand the evolution of some the more intriguing features of this group—their mantis-like arms and the eyes. Stomatopod eyes, which allow them to see polarized light, are some of the most complex among animals.