Muscle powers spearing mantis shrimp attacks

Mantis shrimps pack a powerful punch, whether they smash or spear their victims. According to Maya deVries and Sheila Patek from University of California, Berkeley, smasher mantis shrimps power their claws' ballistic blows using a catapult mechanism, but how do spearers deploy their weapons? Analyzing the movements of large Lysiosquillina maculata, the duo found that they unexpectedly use muscle power to launch their claw spears although smaller Alachosquilla vicina use a catapult mechanism like smashers.

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