The Paradox of the Punch - Part 1: How Mantis Shrimp Dissipate Catastrophic Energy
The Paradox of the Punch - Mantis Shrimp, Biomechanics, and Bio-Inspired Design 1 How Mantis Shrimp Dissipate Catastrophic Energy 2 Vision, Violence, and the Evolutionary Arms Race 3 Trash, Traps, and the Ancestral Technology of the Bajau ← Series Home The animal kingdom is replete with specialized structures designed for survival, but few creatures embody the convergence of offense and defense quite like the mantis shrimp (Stomatopoda). During contests over territory, these crustaceans repeatedly exchange high-force strikes on each other’s armored telsons, or tailplates, in a behavior known as ’telson sparring’. The resulting impacts demand biological armor capable of withstanding forces that exceed 200 N. This seemingly ritualistic combat environment has driven the evolution of sophisticated biomechanical solutions, resulting in structures that are now actively inspiring a new generation of synthetic impact-resistant materials. ...