The mantis shrimp punches so fast the water boils.

Its club-like arms strike at around 80 km/h, among the fastest movements in the animal world. The strike creates bubbles that collapse with a flash of light and heat, hitting the prey twice.

Truth label: Established. Strong evidence and broad agreement among experts.

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Unbreakable fists

The club's layered structure absorbs repeated impacts that would shatter most materials. Engineers copy it for armour.

Strange eyes

They have 12 to 16 types of colour receptors to our 3, yet tests suggest they are not better at telling colours apart.

Learn

1. Cavitation. The bubbles form because the water is pushed aside faster than it can follow, then snap back.

Test yourself

Sources

• Mantis shrimp

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