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TED2004

February 2004

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The shrimp with a kick!

Biologist Sheila Patek talks about her work measuring the feeding strike of the mantis shrimp, one of the fastest movements in the animal world, using video cameras recording at 20,000 frames per second.

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This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Biologist Sheila Patek talks about her work measuring the feeding strike of the mantis shrimp, one of the fastest movements in the animal world, using video cameras recording at 20,000 frames per second.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Biologist, biomechanics researcher

See speaker profile

Biologist Sheila Patek is addicted to speed -- animal speed. She's measured the fastest animal movements in the world, made by snail-smashing mantis shrimp and the snapping mandibles of trap-jaw ants.

Sheila Patek | Science, September 19, 2014 | Article

Biomimetics and evolution

This paper addresses the power of evolutionary diversity to inform translation of biological systems to engineered products.

Suzanne Cox et al. | Bioinspiration and Biomimetics, 2014 | Article

A physical model of the extreme mantis shrimp strike: Kinematics and cavitation of Ninjabot

This study presents a model mantis shrimp that can be used to test hypotheses about cavitation control in fast-rotating systems.

Maya deVries et al. | Journal of Experimental Biology, December 15, 2012 | Article

Strike mechanics of an ambush predator: The spearing mantis shrimp

This study is the first to examine the movement of spearing mantis shrimp.

Sheila Patek et al. | Journal of Experimental Biology, June 15, 2011 | Article

From bouncy legs to poisoned arrows: Elastic movements in invertebrates

This article was written for a general audience and covers the major principles of fast mechanisms in invertebrates.

Jennifer Taylor and Sheila Patek | Journal of Experimental Biology, October 15, 2010 | Article

Ritualized fighting and biological armor: the impact mechanics of the mantis shrimp's telson

Sheila Patek et al. | PNAS, August 22, 2006 | Article

Multifunctionality and mechanical origins: Ballistic jaw propulsion in trap-jaw ants

Sheila Patek and Roy Caldwell | Journal of Experimental Biology, October 1, 2005 | Article

Extreme impact and cavitation forces of a biological hammer: Strike forces of the peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus)

Cavitation forces during biological impact feeding are documented for the first time in this study.

Sheila Patek et al. | Nature, April 22, 2004 | Article

Biomechanics: Deadly strike mechanism of a mantis shrimp