What do you get when you mix the colors of a peacock, the eyes of a chameleon, the punch of a boxer, and the shell of a crab? Meet the Peacock Mantis Shrimp—a creature so unique, scientists are studying it to understand how to design cars, airplanes, and armor!

Here’s our trail map:

• What Is a Mantis Shrimp?
• Can the Mantis Shrimp Punch Through a Glass Aquarium?
• How Does the Mantis Shrimp See Its Underwater World?
• Are There Things in This World We Cannot See?

Episode Links:

• FREE Activity Guide and Bonus Video for this lesson!: https://nattheo.myflodesk.com/x6uw96zq8y
• Try CTCMath for free for one week: https://ctcmath.com/
• Save 25% on Apologia’s award-winning curriculum through August 31, 2025! https://www.apologia.com/
• Order Eryn’s book: The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891
• Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://erynlynum.com/club-videos
• Get full lesson guides in  the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club
• Free Mantis Shrimp Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/mantis-shrimp-punch/
• Ask your nature question: https://erynlynum.com/ask
• Order Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“How many are your works, Lord!

    In wisdom you made them all;

    the earth is full of your creatures.” Psalm 104:24 (NIV)

“Through his power all things were made—things in heaven and on earth, things seen and unseen, all powers, authorities, lords, and rulers. All things were made through Christ and for Christ.” Colossians 1:16 (NCV)

“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NLT)

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. We believe with our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we declare with our mouths that we believe, and so we are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 (NCV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

• Crustacean: An animal with a hard shell on the outside, jointed legs, and no bones inside. Most but not all live in water.
• Stomatopod: A category (order) of crustaceans commonly called the mantis shrimps. They live in ocean waters, commonly in coral reef areas. They are aggressive and are carnivorous, meaning they eat other creatures.
• Cavitation: A process where the mantis shrimp creates a bubble by the power of its punch that collapses, causing a shockwave of incredible force including sound, light, and heat that stuns or kills prey.
• Dactyl Club: Front appendages on a mantis shrimp made of three layers of materials to be strong and lightweight.
• Biomimicry: When people study designs in nature to create better products and technology, using inspiration from nature.
• Compound Eye: An eye made of many, many tiny lenses working together.

Some Resources and Sources from this lesson:

By Design: Evidence for Nature’s Intelligent Designer—The God of the Bible, Dr Jonathan Sarfati: https://usstore.creation.com/product/2419-by-design-2024-book

Wonders of the Ocean Realm: Sherri Selligson: https://www.amazon.com/Wonders-Ocean-Realm-Marvels-Wild/dp/1496486463

Dark matter and energy:

• Believing is Seeing, Michael Guillen, PhD, Former ABC News Science Editor: https://www.amazon.com/Believing-Seeing-Physicist-Shattered-Necessity/dp/1496455584
• https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/dark-matter/en/#:~:text=The%20Short%20Answer:,than%205%25%20of%20the%20universe.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Free Mantis Shrimp Guide & Video

FREE Activity Guide and Bonus Video for this lesson!: https://nattheo.myflodesk.com/x6uw96zq8y