Thread by @Drew_Lab

Next up is the #4 Alligator Snapping Turtle against the #13 Mantis Shrimp #2018MMM

Tonight is truly a battle of tiny vs. middling, with the Alligator Snapping turtle coming in at 85 kg while the Mantis Shrimp weights about 50 g. That's a 1700x difference in mass #2018MMM

Mantis shrimp, or Stomatopods (or 'pods), are amazing creatures, of course I'm biased because I did my Ph.D. in a 'pod lab (bitly.com) #2018MMM

During my PhD we spent a lot of time looking at how ocean currents influenced mantis shrimp (and other) populations, translating that into conservation plans (bit.ly/2GFH70k) #2018MMM

In Fiji Mantis Shrimps are called Vidividi which means "flicking" because of their amazing abiltiy to attack with their raptorial appendages #2018MMM

Mantis Shrimp can split open thumbs, & can break glass. Their appendages shoot forward faster than a bullet, going so fast the friction acutally boils the water creating what's known as cavitation bubbles, which when they collapes cause shockwaves #2018MMM nature.com/articles/42881…

I'll spare you the photo of my bloody thumb #2018MMM

The Alligator Snapping Turtle is the largest of North American non-marine turtles and a bad-mammajamma. I've seen this in the wild and they're inspiring #2018MMM

In the wild Alligator snapping turtles eat a variety of fish, hard-shelled invertebrates, and hard shelled vertebrates including armadillos (bit.ly/2piD0zW). #2018MMM

Alligator snapping turtles are opportunistic scavengers which also hunt using a lurk and snap strategy. They rely on their incredible bite strength of over 1000lbs/square inch (bit.ly/2GGopFY) #2018MMM

Tonight's battle occurs in the brackish waters of the Mississippi delta, the confused Mantis Shrimp is clearly out of its territory #2018MMM

The Mantis Shrimp finds a delicious looking worm, totally innocently flashing pink (and whatever other colors 16 visual pigments can see) against what is TOTALLY not a mouth...well it might be a mouth #2018MMM

SURPRISE SHRIMP! That worm was actually what's called a verimform appendage on the tounge of the Alligator Snapping Turtle, a lure to attract unsuspecting prey #2018MMM

SNAP(ping turtle) chomps down on the Mantis Shrimp #2018

BUT THE TURTLE BITE MISSES! #2018MMM #OhSnap

The Mantis Shrimp punches the Alligator Snapping Turtle beak with its raptorial appendage. #2018MMM

CRAAAACCCKKK!!!! #2018MMM

The counter-punch of the Mantis Shrimp contains two hits, one by the limb, and a second one of the cavitation shock wave, which adds an additonal 50% force to the hit jeb.biologists.org/content/208/19…. These forces combine to FRACTURE the beak of the Alligator Snapping Turtle! #2018MMM

MANTIS SHRIMP DEFEATS ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE #2018MMM #UPSETCITY