Monday, January 31, 2011

A Nice Crustacean Punch

As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, I really like mantis shrimp, and every time I visit the Invertebrate House I try to get a good look at, and a couple of good pictures of, the zoo’s resident example.

I’m a little concerned, though, because, while the mantis shrimp seems initially intrigued by the sight of my camera placed against the glass—and will in fact come out of its burrow to approach the object—it then appears either alarmed or disaffected by it, and after a minute will huffily retreat.


This is bad enough in itself, of course, since I want to keep the mantis shrimp visible for as long as possible—and have no desire to traumatize it with my lens. But what I’m really worried about is that the sight of the camera has triggered within the shrimp a deep, slow-burning rage that will finally express itself in a punch even more powerful than those typical of the species—a punch so powerful that it will shatter even the specially reinforced glass of its enclosure, and the camera beyond it as well.


On the other hand, that would make a pretty good story…


{A note: I do write all text and take all pictures. Please do not reproduce either without my permission.}

3 comments:

pattinase (abbott) said...

And a pretty good picture.

Anca said...

So, when will you write the story? I wanna read it.

biobabbler said...

=) Nice. I have thought about when I'm photographing birds, that it's like a GIANT EYE staring at them, unblinking, a very basic sign of aggression. Same with for mammals.

On a side note, my sleepy eyes read your post title as "Nine crustacean lunch." =)

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