Peacock Mantis Shrimp with Eggs

Peacock mantis shrimp typically mate for life, and breeding happens at night during warmer months. After copulation, the female usually stores the sperm for anywhere from a few hours to several weeks before fertilizing the eggs that she carries. After copulation, the male goes on his way until the next breeding cycle. The female tends the eggs and continuously cleans and aerates them until they hatch, usually around 40 days after fertilization on average. We spotted this female caring for her eggs while diving in the Philippines. Read more in our post, Biodiversity from the Muck to the Reef: Scuba Diving Anilao, Philippines.