10cm shrimp pushes 90kg heavy objects

Researcher David Kisailus of the University of California has explained the secret behind the mantis shrimp's 'weapon' that is capable of smashing prey at a force equivalent to a giant gun of 0.22.

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Mantis is a lone predator, which lurks in underwater burrows and uses its claws to kill prey such as molluscs, crabs and other favorite species. In particular, these 10cm-long tiny shrimps can use their claws at 75 feet (23 meters) per second and can blow an object weighing 200 pounds (91kg). These shots create bubbles that attack prey with half the force.

Mantis shrimp claws can push objects weighing 91kg (Photo: Newsdiscovery)

Although shrimp often change their claws several times a month, they can still attack tens of thousands of times during that time. Kisailus and his colleagues found the secret to creating this incredible power coming from three different areas in shrimp claws.

The area of ​​the claw surface is due to the minerals hydroxyapatite, a substance that contains calcium for human bones, creating stiffness and is arranged into pillars perpendicular to the surface of the claw. And the area retains the effect of the force of chitosan which is a carbohydrate molecule that forms a long chain and makes part of chitin, the substance in the crustaceans. It is stacked in different directions, like a ream of paper deflecting corners, making it possible to avoid cracks when the claws change direction.

Finally, a strong transition of shrimp claws is marked by striated areas, running along the sides of the nail. This area acts like the tape around a boxer's knuckles, having the ability to compress as much as possible to make the crack less likely to occur.

With the discovery, Kisailus and his colleagues are planning to design hammers that mimic the mantis shrimp's claws to be used in aerospace technology, cars, military armor and helmets. .

Reference: Discovery