strikes faster than a blinking eye can

Size
Length: 5–10 cm
Lifespan
2–3 years
Diet
Small fish, worms and crustaceans.
Habitat
Sandy and muddy bottoms in shallow coastal waters.
Range
Northern New Zealand coastal waters.
Endemism
Native
Main Threats
Trawling and habitat destruction.
Population
Locally common in suitable habitats.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
Human Risk
caution
Handling Note
powerful raptorial claws can deliver painful strike and break skin
Conservation Note
Native mantis shrimp locally common in northern sandy and muddy bottoms, not subject to formal NZTCS threat classification.
Te Ao Māori
Mantis shrimps have no specific Māori name. Their striking behaviour is unique. Powerful. Fast. Dangerous. They are the warriors of the sand. Hidden but deadly. A surprise in the mud. Respect the strike.
Sunlight penetrates the sand. The Mantis Shrimp waits. Buried. Hidden. Only its eyes protrude. Complex. Colourful. Seeing spectra humans cannot imagine. It sees polarisation. It sees ultraviolet. It sees the world in high definition. And it sees prey. A small fish. A worm. It strikes. Fast. Faster than a blink. Its raptorial appendages snap forward. Shockwaves form. Cavitation bubbles collapse. Heat is generated. Light is emitted. The prey is stunned. Or killed. Instantly. The shrimp drags it into the burrow. Dinner is served. Violence in silence. Diet consists of small fish, worms and crustaceans. It is a predator. Ambush specialist. It does not chase. It waits. It strikes. Precision. Power. Speed. It is the boxer of the sea. Habitat is sandy or muddy bottoms. It digs burrows. U-shaped tunnels. It lines them with mucus. It keeps them clean. It lives in the dark. Underground. Underwater. Safe. Threats include trawling and habitat destruction. Dredging destroys burrows. Pollution affects water quality. The shrimp is sensitive. It needs clean sand. Clear water. Healthy prey. Range is limited to northern New Zealand. Warm waters. Subtropical influence. It does not like the cold. It stays north. Where the sand is warm. Where the prey is plentiful. Life span is two to three years. Growth is steady. Moulting is risky. Soft shell means vulnerability. It hides in the burrow. Waits. Hardens. Returns to the hunt.