Grab your snorkel gear and a super-strong pair of underwater goggles, explorers! Today, Aimee is taking us to the colorful, shallow coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans to meet an animal that has the best eyesight in the sea and packs the most powerful punch in the animal kingdom!

In this episode, we’re diving in to learn all about the colorful, powerful, wonderful... Mantis Shrimp! You’ll learn:

• The Name That's Wrong Twice: Discover why the Mantis Shrimp is not a praying mantis or a shrimp, but a special crustacean called a Stomatopod.
• The 50-Mile-Per-Hour Fist: Learn how these "smashers" use their club-like arms to throw the fastest punch in the world, moving as fast as a car!
• A Bubble That Boils Underwater: Find out how their incredible speed creates a tiny, boiling hot Cavitation Bubble, and how the resulting shockwave helps them stun their dinner.
• The Rainbow Eyes of the Sea: We'll talk about their incredible vision—they have up to sixteen color-catching cones to see millions of colors, including invisible ultraviolet light.
• Swiveling Eyes on Stalks: Discover how they can move each eye completely on its own, allowing them to look in two different directions at once to watch for predators and prey.

Get ready to dive deep and learn all about one of the most colorful and powerful members of the animal kingdom!

Thank you for listening!

To help maintain a healthy habitat for the Mantis Shrimp, please consider supporting:
Great Barrier Reef Foundation

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