Mantis shrimp have among the most complex visual systems of any animal and demonstrate sophisticated hunting and territorial behavior. Understanding their cognitive complexity informs invertebrate welfare considerations.
Mantis shrimp represent a frontier of invertebrate welfare science. Their extraordinary sensory capabilities, complex territorial behavior, memory for individual identity, and sophisticated strike coordination suggest neural processing well beyond simple reflexive responses. Whether this complexity is associated with subjective experience remains uncertain but scientifically credible. In captivity, mantis shrimp require large territories with appropriate substrate and ample space — conditions rarely provided in aquarium trade. They are frequently kept in unsuitable conditions with chronic stress. The precautionary principle suggests their care should reflect their cognitive sophistication. The broader lesson is that complexity of nervous system and behavior provides a reasonable proxy for welfare consideration even without certainty about subjective experience.