Abstract
One pair of limbs of the mantid shrimp, Gonodactylus, is used to smash hard-shelled prey. The composition and structural features of the cuticle allowing this were examined by microhardness testing, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The cuticle becomes much harder toward its outer surface, and this is associated with an increased mineralization of the organic cuticle and the replacement of calcium carbonate by some form of calcium phosphate as the important mineral phase. The outer part of the limb is so hard that, although it is very brittle, it is very rarely damaged during many months of use in which it strikes thousands of highly energetic blows.
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