"Peacock Mantis Shrimp" by Rick Collier on Flickr is licensed by (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0). https://www.flickr.com/photos/rickcollier/5447045622

The Peacock Mantis Shrimp has existed on Earth for 400 million years (The Amazing Peacock Mantis Shrimp 2020). Contrary to its name, it is not a true shrimp, but instead, it is its own unique species of crustacean (Bhanoo 2012). The beautifully vibrant colors of this crustacean alone set it apart from all others. However, besides color, there are many other notable characteristics about the Peacock Mantis Shrimp as well. 

One unique feature of the creature is its bright red appendages, called dactyl clubs, which are used to smash through many surfaces such as mollusk shells, fish heads, and glass (Bhanoo 2012). The dactyl clubs are extremely strong due to their structure.  The face of dactyl clubs are similar to bones since they are composed of a crystallized form of calcium phosphate (Bhanoo 2012). Underneath the outside layer, chitin, a material that helps prevent fractures, is stacked (Bhanoo 2012). Chitin is also along the sides of the claw (Bhanoo 2012). David Kisailus, a chemical engineer at the University of California, discovered that the dactyl clubs have a very unique composite structure, containing three different regions, which allows them to withstand tremendous impact by localizing all damage and allowing the clubs to remain functional (Bhanoo 2012). Kisailus has been using what he has learned from the mantis shrimp to develop strong material for body armor and crash-resistant vehicles (Bhanoo 2012). 

Native to the Southern Coast of Australia, the uniquely beautiful Leafy Sea Dragons also known as Phycodurus eques are small fish resembling Sea Horses in terms of their shape and size except they have leaf-like appendages protruding from their bodies (Helmenstine, 2019). With their leaf-like appendages, they may be commonly mistaken as floating pieces of seaweed and their ability to blend in and camouflage themselves helps them avoid predators, especially considering they are already poor swimmers (Oceana). 

Similar to Sea Horses, the male leafy sea dragons are responsible for childbearing when their female mate deposits their eggs on the underside of the male sea dragon's tail (Sullivan, 2013). One of their distinctive features is their long tubular snout which makes it easier to suck up plankton and crustaceans as their main sources of food (Sullivan, 2013). The delicate species of leafy sea dragons may not be well known, however, they are the types of marine species where you may have to take a second look to recognize them.

The Peacock Mantis Shrimp has existed on Earth for 400 million years (The Amazing Peacock Mantis Shrimp 2020). Contrary to its name, it is not a true shrimp, but instead, it is its own unique species of crustacean (Bhanoo 2012). The beautifully vibrant colors of this crustacean alone set it apart from all others. However, besides color, there are many other notable characteristics about the Peacock Mantis Shrimp as well. 

One unique feature of the creature is its bright red appendages, called dactyl clubs, which are used to smash through many surfaces such as mollusk shells, fish heads, and glass (Bhanoo 2012). The dactyl clubs are extremely strong due to their structure.  The face of dactyl clubs are similar to bones since they are composed of a crystallized form of calcium phosphate (Bhanoo 2012). Underneath the outside layer, chitin, a material that helps prevent fractures, is stacked (Bhanoo 2012). Chitin is also along the sides of the claw (Bhanoo 2012). David Kisailus, a chemical engineer at the University of California, discovered that the dactyl clubs have a very unique composite structure, containing three different regions, which allows them to withstand tremendous impact by localizing all damage and allowing the clubs to remain functional (Bhanoo 2012). Kisailus has been using what he has learned from the mantis shrimp to develop strong material for body armor and crash-resistant vehicles (Bhanoo 2012). 

Nudibranch (new-dih-bronk) or Nudibranchia are sea slugs with eye-catching patterns and colors. Currently, there are actually over 3000 species of Nudibranchs that exist in our tropical waters. In 2013, a professor at Southern Cross University who was mesmerized by the nudibranch species created the “Coffs Coast Sea Slug Census” where participants get in the water and record the number of sea slug species they can find and their location. This was not only a way to learn about marine biodiversity but also a strategy to document the highest number of nudibranch species found considering there are thousands of them overall. In a period of seven years, 2035 participants have recorded a total of 627 species - 232 have only ever been photographed once and 263 species with no name yet. The diversity of the nudibranch species is so immense that in one single census (a procedure that records members of a given population), the highest number of species found so far was 138 back in December of 2015. (Jarrett, 2021). 

There are two main types of Nudibranchs: Dorid and Aeolid. The main difference between the two classifications of nudibranchs is that Dorid Nudibranchs look smooth and have feather-like gills on the back of them for breathing however, as for Aeolid Nudibranchs - they breathe with their cerata organs (horn-like appendages) that are also on their back (Smithsonian, 2019). Although these sea slugs are closely related to snails, they lack a shell for protection because they shed it as larvae and so they must use camouflage to blend into their surroundings to hide from predators or they can use their bright and distinctive patterns and colors as a warning. An interesting fact about Aeolid Nudibranch is that because they have evolved, some are known to reuse the stinging cells from their prey after ingesting them (Smithsonian, 2019) and this is why it is always better to look at them but don’t touch them.

Ever wonder why and how they get some of their unique colors and pigment? Not only are the Nudibranch species just born with their remarkable patterns but their color derives from absorbing their prey’s pigment as they eat them (Silen). The Nudibranch species definitely don’t leave anything to waste!