Mantis shrimp
A mantis shrimp is a marine crustacean that hunts using specialised limbs to strike or spear prey. It belongs to the order Stomatopoda and has highly complex eyes capable of detecting polarised light.
Also known as: peacock mantis shrimp, stomatopod
How big is it?
10 cm long
Also 3.937 in
Defined body length · defined specimen
Typical recorded range: 6 cm to 18 cm.
A little perspective
About the same scale as Nudibranch.
Nudibranch: A nudibranch is a soft-bodied marine mollusc, often brightly coloured, commonly known as a sea slug.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Mantis shrimp
A defined 10 cm peacock mantis shrimp specimen measured from rostrum to tail fan. Species range from a few centimetres to much larger forms; antennae are excluded.
Smithsonian Ocean — Mantis shrimp
The marked defined body length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Nudibranch
A defined 10 cm dorid nudibranch specimen. Species range from millimetres to many centimetres; rhinophores and gill plume are included in the illustration but not the nose-to-tail calibration.
Smithsonian Ocean — Nudibranchs
The marked defined body length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 10 cm
For comparison, this page uses defined body length. This is labelled defined specimen: an explicit comparison model rather than a claim that every example has the same value. The recorded range is 6 cm to 18 cm.
A defined 10 cm peacock mantis shrimp specimen measured from rostrum to tail fan. Species range from a few centimetres to much larger forms; antennae are excluded.
The marked horizontal span follows the named feature; transparent margins and unmeasured details do not alter it. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Mantis shrimp dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 cm | 6 cm to 18 cm | defined specimen |
Around this scale
Go smaller. Go bigger.
These links use compatible length records, ordered around the selected value.
Nearest lower value · Living thingsMouse9 cmA mouse is a small rodent with a pointed snout and a long, thin tail.
Around the same scale · Living thingsNudibranch10 cmA nudibranch is a soft-bodied marine mollusc, often brightly coloured, commonly known as a sea slug.
Nearest higher value · Living thingsEarthworm12 cmAn earthworm is a segmented invertebrate that lives in soil and aids in decomposing organic material.Sources and method
Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- Smithsonian Ocean — Mantis shrimpStomatopod anatomy and broad adult size variation; the atlas uses a defined specimen.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
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Everyday thingsPomegranate10 cmA pomegranate is a round fruit from the Punica granatum tree, containing many edible seeds surrounded by juicy pulp.
SportShuttlecock8.5 cmA shuttlecock is a feathered projectile used in badminton, designed to be struck by rackets.
PeopleHuman heart12 cmA human heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood through the circulatory system.
Living thingsAbalone10 cmAn abalone is a marine mollusc with a flattened, ear-shaped shell, belonging to the genus Haliotis.
Everyday thingsPear11 cmA pear is a sweet, edible fruit produced by trees of the genus Pyrus, commonly eaten fresh or used in cooking and baking.