Scaly-Tailed Mantis (Lysiosquilla scabricuada) – Blue Heron Bridge, Riviera Beach, Fl
Most likely the most powerful pound-for-pound animal in the ocean, the Mantis Shrimp demands respect. With two incredibly strong claws cocked and ready to strike, the Mantis Shrimp waits in excavated holes, concealing themselves from unsuspecting prey. The attack of a Mantis Shrimp is so incredibly fast and powerful that it often dismembers, stuns, and kills its prey in a fraction of a second before dragging it down into its lair for easy feeding. In captivity, they’ve even been known to break aquarium glass and inflict nasty wounds to those who handle them improperly. Shooting this Mantis, I approached with caution as to not disturb/frighten the animal into either disappearing down its hole or punching my macro lens into oblivion.
Canon G15, Nauticam NAG15, Inon s2000 (x2), Sola Photo 800, SubSee +10
1/250 sec, f/8, ISO200