Nannosquilla decemspinosa

Nannosquilla decemspinosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Stomatopoda
Family: Nannosquillidae
Genus: Nannosquilla
Species: N. decemspinosa
Binomial name
Nannosquilla decemspinosa
(Rathbun, 1910)

Nannosquilla decemspinosa is a species of long-bodied, short-legged Mantis Shrimp. It lives in shallow sandy areas along the Pacific coast of Central and South America.

It is most well known because when stranded by a low tide the 3 cm stomatopod lies on its back and performs backwards somersaults over and over. The animal moves up to 2 meters at a time by rolling 20-40 times, with speeds of around 72 revolutions per minute - 1.5 body lengths per second (3.5 cm/s). Researchers estimate that the stomatopod acts as a true wheel around 40% of the time during this series of rolls. The remaining 60% of the time it has to "jumpstart" a roll by using its body to thrust itself upwards and forwards.[1][2][3]

References

  1. "Great Moments in Science - Real Wheel Animals - Part Two". Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  2. Pamela S. Turner. "Who You Callin' "Shrimp"?" (vol. 43 no. 6). National Wildlife. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  3. Srour, M. (July 13, 2011). "Mantis Shrimp (Crustacea: Stomatopoda)". Bioteaching.com. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
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