Listen up folks – there’s been a lot of buzz going around about mantis shrimps being these crazy powerful creatures that can break human fingers with one punch. As someone who’s spent way too much time researching these colorful little fighters, I’m here to set the record straight about whether you should really be worried about your fingers around them.
Quick Answer: No, a mantis shrimp typically cannot break a human finger bone. While they can definitely hurt you and cause cuts or puncture wounds, their strikes aren’t powerful enough to fracture adult finger bones.
Why People Think Mantis Shrimps Are Finger-Breakers
Let me tell you why these tiny crustaceans got such a scary reputation:
- They punch SUPER fast – as fast as a .22 caliber bullet!
- Can generate force up to 1,500 Newtons (that’s like 152 kg of force)
- Some folks call them “thumb splitters” in the Caribbean
- They’ve been known to crack aquarium glass
- Their strikes can create underwater shock waves
The Real Deal About Mantis Shrimp Injuries
Here’s what can actually happen if you get hit by a mantis shrimp:
- Painful cuts and gashes
- Deep puncture wounds
- Skin lacerations
- Possible infection if not treated
- Nasty bruising
But breaking bones? That’s mostly a myth. Here’s why:
- Human finger bones are way thicker and stronger than the shells these guys usually crack
- Their striking motion is too quick to transfer enough force for bone breakage
- No confirmed cases of finger bones actually being broken by mantis shrimps
- Their appendages aren’t shaped right for breaking thick bones
Types of Mantis Shrimps and Their Weapons
These little warriors come in two flavors
Spearers
- Have spiky appendages
- Stab and impale their prey
- Strike at about 21 km/h
- Usually hang out in sandy areas
Smashers
- Have club-like appendages
- Crack shells and exoskeletons
- Hit at speeds up to 108 km/h
- Live in rocks and coral
Safety Tips When Handling Mantis Shrimps
Even tho they can’t break your fingers, you still don’t wanna mess with these guys carelessly. Here’s what I recommend:
- Always wear protective gloves when handling them
- Keep your fingers away from their striking range
- Don’t try to grab them directly
- Be extra careful around larger specimens
- Clean any wounds thoroughly if you do get hit
Some Cool Facts About These Little Punchers
While we’re talking about mantis shrimps, check out these awesome features:
- They’ve got super-vision with 16 color receptors (we only have 3!)
- Over 450 different species exist worldwide
- Some can glow in the dark
- Their strikes create underwater bubbles that release heat
- They’re actually not shrimps at all (they’re stomatopods)
When Should You Actually Worry?
While finger breaking isn’t really a thing, there are times you should be extra careful:
- If you’re handling very large specimens
- When dealing with juveniles or small children
- If you have any bone conditions
- If the strike hits sensitive areas like eyes or throat
- When working with multiple specimens at once
So there you have it! While mantis shrimps are incredibly powerful for their size and can definitely hurt you, they’re not the finger-breaking monsters some people make them out to be. Just treat them with respect, use proper handling techniques, and you’ll be fine!
Remember – these amazing creatures are way more interesting for their incredible abilities than for any mythical finger-breaking powers. Their super-speed punches and amazing vision make them some of the coolest animals in our oceans!
Would you like me to explain more about any particular aspect of mantis shrimps? I’ve got tons more fascinating facts about these little warriors!
Antonio Lucas Sforcin Amaral1 Universidade Estadual Paulista, Instituto de Biociências de Botucatu, Departamento de Zoologia, Botucatu, SP, Brasil. Find articles by
Received 2020 Dec 10; Accepted 2021 Mar 31; Collection date 2021.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License
Mantis shrimps or siriboias are crustaceans belonging to the order Stomatopoda. They are known for their strong claws, which they use for defense and capturing their prey. They are classified into two groups: the spearers, which pierce the prey with sharp projections, and the smashers, which strike their prey with high-powered punches. These animals are highly feared by fishermen, and there are frequent anecdotal reports of human injuries caused by these crustaceans.
A questionnaire about injuries in humans caused by these stomatopods was administered to 23 fishermen of Colony Z10 in Ubatuba, São Paulo state, Brazil, and a survey of the literature on injuries in humans caused by these animals was carried out.
The fishermen consider the mantis shrimp dangerous and avoid direct contact with them on account of the associated risk. We describe five reports of human injuries caused by these animals: four by the claws and one by the tail spikes.
We describe the first aid treatment, prevention, and recommendations for such cases and propose the distribution of educational leaflets among the fishermen colonies.
Keywords: Arthropoda, Crustacea, Injuries, First aid, Occupational diseases
The mantis shrimp (Figure 1) is a marine crustacean belonging to the order Stomatopoda Latreille, 1817, and popularly known as siriboia, tamarutaca, tamburutaca, boxing shrimp, or squilla. “Siriboia” is an indigenous word formed by joining the words “si’ri” (crab) and “mboi” (snake/serpent) 1 . They are known as “mantis shrimp” because they possess raptorial claws with which they attack their prey like a mantis (Insecta: Mantodea), which strikes using its forelegs. Mantis shrimps have a global distribution and occur in tropical and subtropical waters 2 , 3 , 4 . In Brazil, there are 43 species belonging to 10 families, with a wide geographic distribution along the coast, from Amapá state (latitude 03º north) to Rio Grande do Sul state (latitude 30º south) 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 .
FIGURE 3: Chart with description of the cases of injuries caused by stomatopods and their outcomes.
There are no guidelines on prevention of injuries caused by the stomatopods, possibly because such incidents rarely occur. Based on the information obtained in this research, we recommend the following procedure for treating injuries caused by the stomatopods:
The Mantis Shrimp’s Killer Punch
FAQ
Can mantis shrimp injure a human?
Yes, a mantis shrimp can injure a human. Their powerful punches, delivered by specialized claws, can cause significant pain, lacerations, and even broken bones.
Can a mantis hurt your finger?
Most mantises won’t bite. If they pinch, it is usually because you have startled them. It is just a reflex and not aggressive. It doesn’t hurt.Aug 2, 2024
Can mantis shrimp break a glass?
The mantis shrimp uses its specialized forelimbs to deliver lightning-fast strikes, so fast that the human eye cannot perceive them. In fact, their strikes are up to 50 times faster than a human blink. The force of these strikes can cause water to bubble or even shatter glass.