Hidden among coral rubble and sandy burrows lives a creature no larger than a hand, yet possessing one of the most complex visual systems known on Earth: the mantis shrimp.
Peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus)
Easy to overlook at first glance, the mantis shrimp flickers in and out of view, its body painted in iridescent greens, blues and reds. But behind those colours lies something far stranger. It does not see the world as we do. It sees a world we cannot even imagine.
Independent eyes
Each of the mantis shrimp’s eyes sits on a stalk, moving independently. One eye can look forward, while the other scans behind. Each eye alone can judge depth, something humans need two eyes to achieve.
But even this is only the beginning. Within each eye are multiple regions that process different kinds of light. The mantis shrimp can detect ultraviolet light, polarised light, and a wide range of colour wavelengths, while for us, colour is a simple spectrum.
To the mantis shrimp, it may be a language of extraordinary richness, one our human minds cannot begin to imagine. The animal's qualities dismantle the idea that human abilities are superior in every way. Especially when compared with shrimps.
Do they see more, or differently?
For years, scientists believed that mantis shrimps saw more colours than any other animal. But recent research suggests something more subtle, and more mysterious. Instead of blending colours the way humans do, mantis shrimp may recognise colours as distinct categories, almost like symbols. Rather than seeing finer detail, they may process visual information faster, identifying colours instantly, without complex comparison.
If true, this means their vision is not “better” than ours but completely different. They may live in a world of signals and flashes, where colour is read rather than perceived.
The fastest strike in the ocean
Vision is not their only marvel. Some mantis shrimp, known as smashers, possess a striking appendage that moves so fast it creates a shockwave in the water. The strike can break shells, crack glass, and stun prey instantly.
The speed is so extreme that it produces a tiny flash of heat and light, a brief burst of energy as water collapses into cavitation bubbles. It is a weapon born of precision, power, and timing, guided by that extraordinary vision.
A language of light
Mantis shrimp not only see complex signals, but they may also send them. Their bodies reflect polarised light in patterns invisible to most predators. To another mantis shrimp, however, these signals may be as clear as gestures or words. These small creatures may be communicating in a hidden visual code, flashes and reflections that pass through the reef unnoticed: a conversation in a language of light.
The mystery of perception
What makes the mantis shrimp so compelling is not just what it does, but what it suggests. It reminds us that perception is not universal. Two creatures can live side by side in the same water, yet inhabit entirely different realities. One sees colour as a gradient, while another reads it as a signal. One sees only light, while another sees patterns hidden from others.
The mantis shrimp does not simply expand our understanding of vision; it challenges it.
A world beyond ours
As divers, we move through a world of colour and motion, believing we see the ocean as it is. But the mantis shrimp tells another story. There are worlds within this world, layers of perception, hidden signals, and unseen dimensions of light.
We are only visitors in one version of reality. Others may be at our right hand, but beyond the reach of our human minds.
Ethologist Ila France Porcher, author of Yes, Fish Feel Pain, The True Nature of Sharks, and six other books on wildlife behaviour, spent 15 years closely observing fish and shark behaviour in Tahiti, resulting in several scientific papers. Her writings are based on decades of first-hand observations of wildlife and focus on the individuality and intelligence of individuals, challenging traditional views of animal minds. Her work has been featured on Shark Week, in scientific discussions, conservation debates, and international media for its unique blend of field observation, art, and science.
