Almost as swift as Usyk: meet the creature with world's fastest kick

Biologists have named a creature that can compete with Oleksandr Usyk and the Klychko brothers in terms of punch speed. According to the research, the mantis shrimp can break an opponent's shell or, for example, aquarium glass with the force of a .22 caliber bullet.

Despite the waves created by its own blows, this shrimp remains unharmed. Scientists have found that the limbs of the mantis, called the dactyl clubs, have a structure that allows them to absorb shock waves that occur when they hit and crack the shell of their victim, Newsweek writes.

According to scientists, mantis shrimp are colorful and small, mostly up to 17 cm, but they are not to be trifled with. After all, these carnivorous crustaceans boast a powerful punch that can break mollusc shells at speeds of over 80 kilometers per hour, PopularScience notes.

"The mantis shrimp is known for its incredibly powerful strike, which can break mollusk shells and even crack aquarium glass. However, to repeatedly execute these high-impact strikes, the mantis shrimp's dactyl club must have a robust protection mechanism to prevent self-damage," said one of the researchers, Hoacio D. Espinosa, a professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering at Northwestern University.

"We found it uses phononic mechanisms, structures that selectively filter stress waves. This enables the shrimp to preserve its striking ability over multiple impacts and prevent soft tissue damage," the professor explained.

Researchers note that mantis shrimp are armed with two hammer-like clubs that act like a pair of fists. They store energy in elastic, spring-like structures that are held in place by latch-like tendons.

When the tendons are released, the stored energy is released too, pushing the mace forward with explosive force.

When the mantis shrimp strikes, it creates pressure waves on its target. It also creates bubbles that collapse rapidly, creating shock waves in the megahertz range, Espinosa explained.

"The collapse of these bubbles releases intense bursts of energy, which travel through the shrimp’s club. This secondary shockwave effect, along with the initial impact force, makes the mantis shrimp’s strike even more devastating," the researcher said.

The scientists were surprised that this enormous force did not damage the shrimp's delicate nerves and tissues. Analysis of the armor revealed that it has structural patterns that protect against fractures, as well as other complex elements that act as a phononic shield, filtering out high-frequency stress waves to prevent harmful vibrations from spreading to the shrimp's arm and body.

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