Mantis Shrimp Vision Unlocks Far-Red Light Detection

Researchers discover how mantis shrimp perceive light beyond human capabilities using specialized protein and pigment systems.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Life Sciences

A close-up view of the intricate, multi-faceted compound eye of a colorful mantis shrimp submerged in bright, clear tropical water. — Researchers identified unique rhodopsin proteins and carotenoid filters in mantis shrimp, allowing the crustaceans to perceive far-red light beyond human vision. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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A study published in October 2026 reveals that mantis shrimp utilize unique rhodopsin proteins and carotenoid filters to detect far-red light. This specialized biological system allows the crustaceans to see light beyond the visible spectrum detectable by humans.

Why it matters

By identifying these natural light-filtering mechanisms, researchers have uncovered how these creatures optimize vision in bright conditions. This discovery provides a new framework for developing advanced light-detection technologies.

The study analyzed 17 types of rhodopsin proteins, with three specific proteins identified as capable of absorbing light at wavelengths longer than 600 nanometers. Natural carotenoids serve as filters to enable this specific light wavelength detection.

The players

Megan Porter

She is a researcher who co-authored the study on mantis shrimp vision while working at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

The details

Mantis shrimp possess at least 12 distinct light receptor types, vastly outnumbering the three found in human eyes. These creatures combine rhodopsin proteins to absorb light and carotenoids to filter wavelengths, functioning most effectively in bright environments.

October 2026: Study results on mantis shrimp vision were published in Science Advances.

The Big Picture

This research shifts our understanding of visual limits by demonstrating how mantis shrimp extend their sight beyond the human visible light spectrum. The findings disprove the notion that such light detection requires complex artificial sensors, instead pointing to evolved protein systems.

While currently limited to biological study, understanding these specialized protein systems could eventually lead to more efficient consumer-grade light sensors. These advancements may result in better cameras or precision optics that mimic natural filtering techniques.

The takeaway

Mantis shrimp represent an extraordinary example of biological adaptation that far exceeds the complexity of human color perception. Incorporating these findings into new technologies may help engineers develop sensors that perform reliably in exceptionally bright light.