Mantis Shrimp

I listened to an incredibly fascinating Radiolab episode on Color and learned about the mighty Mantis Shrimp. It has the most sophisticated visual system in the world, as its eyes contain 16 different types of photoreceptors (12 for color analysis, compared to humanity’s 3 cones). Mantis shrimps can thus see polarized light and 4 colors of uv light, and they may also be able to distinguish up to 100,000 colors (compared to the 10,000 seen by human beings).

Do yourself a favor and listen to the Color Radiolab Podcast.

(image by p@ragon)

11 Comments leave a comment below

  1. I heard that same episode, then a few days ago I read this article in which I learned they have club-like feet that scientists are studying to make better body armor. I think I found my new favorite critter. :^)

  2. A-ma-zing! Love Radiolab!

  3. that’s not the only cool thing they can do! that also boasts the fastest punch of any animal! its acceleration is 10,000 times greater than gravity. Moving through water, it reaches a top speed of 50 miles per hour. It creates a pressure wave that boils the water in front of it, creating flashes of light! The club reaches its target in just three thousandths of a second, and strikes with the force of a rifle bullet!

  4. That episode is the bar by which I measure other podcasts. I have yet to listen to another episode of any podcast that was as thoroughly mind-blowing as this one.

  5. same with me…
    their episode about moral is also stunning – the created such an inspiring format for their podcast…

  6. As my coworker said: “so they see: RGB, CMYK, HSL, BW, and the entire Pantone collection (yes all of them)”

    :)

  7. This Radiolab podcast moved me as well. This is the first time I’ve seen a photo of the mantis shrimp.
    This picture is so rich and full of color – this episode made me realize we have NO CONCEPT of the depth and spectrum of color that this mantis shrimp possesses. Amazing.

  8. I agree with Marisa, that podcast was everything a podcast should be. I had the privilege of being able to listen to it while I was in my studio painting. I found it very inspiring.

  9. Brilliant episode! And I was wondering what this looked like.

  10. This is definitely so amazing to see how this looks. You did an amazing job with the photo shots and the color here. So much that you can get from this great work here.immigration appeal