Why Do Mantis Shrimp Have Such Complex Vision?

💡 The Answer

• Mantis shrimp have 12–16 types of photoreceptors, compared to humans' three, allowing UV and polarized light vision.
• Their compound eyes are on stalks that pivot independently, granting a nearly 360-degree field of view.
• Some species have trinocular vision, giving each eye its own depth perception for precise strikes.
• Their eyes can detect circularly polarized light, a rare ability used for communication and navigation.