Fact: The mantis shrimp has the most powerful punch in all of the animal kingdom.
The modest mantis shrimp is the boxer of the oceans, with a solitary punch conveying about the same power as a 22-calibre bullet.
These shrimp have club like accessory, which are enriched with minerals to make them extremely hard, which they can throw at up to 49Mph.
Actually, muscle flexing alone can't produce such enormous speed the mystery is a series of 'organic springs' which demonstration like a spring-stacked catapult.
Combining speed and strength means these shrimp are able to inflict huge damage: mantis shrimp can punch clean through metal, and have even been known to pummel giant crabs into submission by breaking through their thick shells. While the main function of these clubs is to capture prey, those unfortunate enough to wander too close to a mantis shrimp burrow will often find themselves on the receiving end of a savage beating.
Their punch is so fast that it actually produces a small amount of light. As these fists of fury move forwards, they create an area of low pressure behind them which results in a small air bubble forming (a process called cavitation). These bubbles then collapse, which results in a huge release of energy – in the form of heat and light.
The energy released from these bubbles also strikes the victim, resulting in a kind of ‘one-two’ combo and can be powerful enough to kill prey even if the initial punch misses its target.
