mantis shrimp

There are a number of cases when marital relations are achieved between individuals; such couples of MANTIS SHRIMPS can coexist for up to 2 years, which is a rare phenomenon among invertebrates.
Mating occurs during the full moon. Males court the females beforehand, performing a kind of dance in front of them. After fertilization, the female is able to store sperm for up to 10 months, choosing the optimal time for fertilization. The eggs are carried for 2-3 months after fertilization; one individual is capable of carrying up to 50 thousand eggs. A brightly, exotically colored Mantis shrimp with eggs looks especially aristocratic: as if she is wearing a jabot.During the period of carrying eggs, the female is unable to hunt independently and starves. If she has a married couple, the male brings her food.
Underwater video. Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental, Philippines