Nannosquilla decemspinosa

Nannosquilla decemspinosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Crustacea
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Stomatopoda
Family:	Nannosquillidae
Genus:	Nannosquilla decemspinosa
Species:	N. decemspinosa
Binomial name
Nannosquilla decemspinosa (Rathbun, 1910)

Nannosquilla decemspinosa is a species of long-bodied, short-legged Mantis Shrimp. It lives in shallow sandy areas along the Pacific coast of Central and South America.

It is most well known because when stranded by a low tide the 3 cm stomatopod lies on its back and performs backwards somersaults over and over. The animal moves up to 2 meters at a time by rolling 20-40 times, with speeds of around 72 revolutions per minute - 1.5 body lengths per second (3.5 cm/s). Researchers estimate that the stomatopod acts as a true wheel around 40% of the time during this series of rolls. The remaining 60% of the time it has to "jumpstart" a roll by using its body to thrust itself upwards and forwards.^[1][2]

References

1. "Great Moments in Science - Real Wheel Animals - Part Two". Retrieved 2008-08-03.
2. Pamela S. Turner. "Who You Callin' "Shrimp"?" (vol. 43 no. 6). National Wildlife. Retrieved 2008-08-03.