Are mantis shrimps intelligent?
It depends on where the cutoff point for intelligence is set. Although it is unlikely that a stomatopod will ever get a perfect score in any collegiate entrance examination, researchers have discovered that these crustaceans do pack some intellectual brainpower. Dr. Roy Caldwell notes: (Stomatopods have the) ability to distinguish colors, polarization patterns, and shape. (My very first study was to train a stomatopod to distinguish between a right side up and up side down equilateral triangle.) We have also observed them learn to open unfamiliar shell morphologies and change the size of prey taken depending on the risk of foraging. Then there are the learning to recognize other individuals studies. Within the constraints of being able to manipulate objects, they appear to be able to do everything that large octopus can and then some. Memory wise, the longest ability to discriminate between two individuals I have documented is a month. The unique rotating eyes of stomatopods tend to ma
