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Skeleton Shrimp

Although they’re known as the praying mantis of the sea, the Skeleton Shrimp is neither a praying mantis or a shrimp, but a gangly amphipod

Although they’re known as the praying mantis of the sea, the Skeleton Shrimp is neither a praying mantis or a shrimp, but a gangly amphipod - an order of malacostracan crustaceans with no carapace. They also have adaptations for camouflage, changing colours to blend in with their surroundings.

If they were massive, Skeleton Shrimps could be quite scary: not only do they have ghostly, stick-like bodies, but their claws are large and the males’ are armed with a poison producing gland. Thankfully, they’re very small, ranging in size from ½ inch to 2 inches in length.

Still, the females can be pretty deadly - especially to her mates. Instead of sticking around for a second date, the females of some skeleton shrimp species kill the male after mating.

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