Nature is full of beauty and verdant wonder, but there’s a darker side. Just beyond the edge of the environment’s allure sits violence. Nature seems to love a good fight, and it doesn’t discriminate.

The mantis shrimp is a small sea creature with extraordinary abilities, from lightning-fast punches to seeing colors beyond human perception. Its claws strike with the speed of a bullet, making it one ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world. At first glance, the mantis shrimp is an unassuming ...

Known for their powerful punch, mantis shrimp can smash a shell with the force of a .22 caliber bullet. Yet, amazingly, these tough critters remain intact despite the intense shockwaves created by ...

Peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) might be small, but thanks to a specialized limb, they pack a mighty punch. Their jabs are strong enough to crack the shells of other crustaceans, and ...

Peacock mantis shrimp are one of the larger mantis shrimp species, measuring 1.2 to 7.1 inches in length. Peacock mantis shrimp get their name from their kaleidoscope shell, like a peacock’s tail, and ...