When it comes to vision, humans are often considered to be at the top of the food chain. But did you know that there’s a creature out there that can see more colors than we can? That creature is the mantis shrimp, a crustacean that inhabits shallow tropical and subtropical waters.
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The Mantis Shrimp’s Eyes
The mantis shrimp has some of the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom. In fact, each of its eyes has three sections, called “tri-focal” eyes. These sections allow the mantis shrimp to see things in a way that humans can’t even imagine.
One section of the mantis shrimp’s eyes detects color information, while another section detects polarization, which is the orientation of light waves. The third section helps the mantis shrimp see in low light conditions.
How Many Colors Can Mantis Shrimp See?
The mantis shrimp is capable of seeing an incredible 16 color channels, compared to the three color channels that humans can see. This means that the mantis shrimp can see colors that we can’t even imagine, including ultraviolet and infrared light.
Not only can the mantis shrimp see more colors than humans, but it can also distinguish between them more easily. This is because the mantis shrimp’s eyes have more color receptors than human eyes do.
Mantis Shrimp vs. Human Vision
While the mantis shrimp’s vision is superior to human vision in many ways, there are some things that humans can see that mantis shrimp can’t. For example, humans can see fine details better than mantis shrimp can. This is because the mantis shrimp’s eyes are specialized for detecting movement and color, rather than fine details.
Additionally, humans have a wider field of vision than mantis shrimp do. Mantis shrimp can only see things that are directly in front of them, while humans can see things that are off to the side as well.
Why Can Mantis Shrimp See So Many Colors?
The mantis shrimp’s ability to see so many colors is thought to be an adaptation that helps it find food and avoid predators. For example, the mantis shrimp can see the polarization patterns created by the reflection of light off of small animals, which helps it locate prey.
Additionally, the mantis shrimp’s ability to see so many colors helps it blend in with its surroundings. This is because the mantis shrimp can see colors that are outside of the visible spectrum to humans, which means that it can match its coloration to its environment in a way that is invisible to us.
Conclusion
The mantis shrimp is an incredible creature with some of the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom. Its ability to see so many colors is just one of the many ways in which it is adapted to life in the ocean. While humans may not be able to see as many colors as the mantis shrimp, we still have a lot to learn from this amazing creature.