Body length1 tenths m
1.32Hockey puck diameters
2.9 millionthsBermuda lengths
1Donut diameter
Typical large species
Photo by Rosie Kerr on Unsplash
Praying Mantis
A patient ambush predator with reflexes faster than a blink/Insects & Arachnids
The praying mantis strikes with its raptorial forelegs in as little as 30 milliseconds, far faster than the human eye can follow. It is the only insect that can rotate its head 180 degrees to scan for prey. Some species are known to eat hummingbirds, and the females' reputation for decapitating mates, while exaggerated, is grounded in real behavior.
Measurements
Body mass7 thousandths kg
93.3 millionthsKeanu Reeveses
6.7 millionthsSmall cars
70 billionthsLoaded freight cars
About 7 g
Strike time3 hundredths s
1.2 billionthsHuman pregnancies
1 tenthsBlinks of an eye
528 quadrillionthsGreat Wall constructions
Raptorial foreleg strike in 30 ms
Strike speed2.5 m/s
2.8 tenthsFalling raindrops
2.7 thousandthsSound in helium
1.25Houseflies
Foreleg extension speed
Visual range18 m
6Diving boards
6,000Snowflake crystals
3.6Bamboo pole lengths
Can detect movement at ~18 m; head rotates 180 degrees
Adult lifespan31.5 million s
8,760Work meetings
63.1 millionSneeze durations
58,400Snooze alarms
About 12 months in the wild