In an extraordinary find in the waters off the Isle of Wight, a mantis shrimp – renowned for its unique vision and hunting prowess – has been recorded on video, offering a rare glimpse of this elusive species thriving in UK marine waters.
Recorded near Bouldnor, Isle of Wight, this remarkable video find marks only the second known sighting of a mantis shrimp in the area, highlighting the unique marine biodiversity of the region.
The mantis shrimp (Rissoides desmaresti) was discovered by a member of the public, Jean Saunders, who contacted Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to confirm its identification.
Saunders: I found a mud-covered creature about 4 inches long, tangled in seagrass
Jean’s video provides one of the most detailed records of this species in UK waters. Sightings of mantis shrimp in UK waters are rare, only a few isolated sightings have been recorded along the south and west coasts of the British Isles, usually dead animals are washed up on the shore or captured in fishing gear.
Jean explained,
“While walking along a shingle bank at Bouldnor during low tide, I noticed movement around 4.45pm.
“On closer inspection, I found a mud-covered creature about 4 inches long, tangled in seagrass and hard to identify. My brother and I carefully moved it into a shallow pool, and once the mud washed off, we got a clearer view but still couldn’t place it.
“Back home, I searched online and thought it looked like a mantis shrimp, though I found that unlikely, so I decided to contact the Trust.”
Mantis shrimp live in burrows, only leaving their shelter to hunt for prey or find a mate. This behaviour makes them particularly hard to spot, as they spend most of their lives hidden in these burrows.
Rising ocean temperatures could lead to more sightings in the UK as mantis shrimp expand their range beyond their traditional tropical and subtropical habitats.
Despite their name, mantis shrimp are not true shrimp but a type of stomatopod: a relative of crabs and lobsters that has existed on Earth for over 400 million years. These fascinating creatures are divided into two categories: spearers and smashers, distinguished by the way they use their specialised claws.
The mantis shrimp discovered in the Solent is a ‘spearer’, a variety equipped with sharp, spiny claws designed to grasp and impale prey. Though small (about 10cm in length) these impressive predators that can kill prey bigger than themselves, typically fish and crabs.
Mantis shrimp possess the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom. Each eye contains up to 16 different types of photoreceptors, 12 dedicated to detecting colour, including ultraviolet and four for other light characteristics such as polarisation. With eyes mounted on movable stalks that can also rotate, the optical capabilities of mantis shrimp are very different to our own, allowing them to perceive the world in a way completely different from humans, and uniquely adapted to their lightening ambush predation and social interactions.
Ferrero: Best record of a live mantis shrimp in UK waters that I’ve ever seen
Dr Tim Ferrero, Senior Specialist in Marine Conservation at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said,
“It’s the best record of a live mantis shrimp in UK waters that I’ve ever seen.
“What’s even better is this record showing the mantis shrimp within seagrass, a habitat vitally important for marine life including these remarkable crustaceans. In the UK, it is estimated that we have lost up to 92% of seagrass over the past century, making this discovery particularly poignant.
“The Trust works tirelessly to restore, protect and monitor this precious marine habitat so that species like the mantis shrimp have a habitat to thrive in.”
Globally, the species is listed at least concern on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation) Red List of Threatened Species. The species is considered locally threatened by marine aggregate extraction and coastal management interventions.
These activities disrupt the sensitive environments that mantis shrimp depend on, such as sandy or rocky seabeds and seagrass meadows. The removal of marine aggregates can physically alter these habitats by changing the structure of the seabed, while coastal management practices, including dredging and the construction of coastal defenses can fragment these ecosystems and introduce pollutant.
News shared by Helen on behalf of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Ed
