mantis shrimp
Squilla mantis
#nm_0576📍 International
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- Transliteration
- mantis shrimp
Compound: mantis + shrimp mantis: for its resemblance to the praying mantis insect, shrimp: small crustacean, of uncertain Germanic origin ↳ mantis from Ancient Greek μάντις mántis (prophet, seer), for the insect's prayer-like forelimb posture
Burrowing mantis shrimp about 20 cm long, with enlarged raptorial forelimbs used to strike prey. Lives in soft sediment of the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic.