Aggressive Japanese shrimp that packs a punch shocks New Zealand

The discovery of Japanese mantis shrimp – nicknamed ‘thumb splitters’ – in the Bay of Plenty ‘is not something to celebrate’, officials say

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Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council shared a photo of the Japanese mantis shrimp on Facebook, urging residents to notify them of any sightings of the “marine pest”. Photo: Facebook/boprc

Published: 10:46am, 18 Dec 2024Updated: 10:47am, 18 Dec 2024

Government officials in New Zealand are investigating how an aggressive species known as the “thumb splitter” ended up in the country’s northern coastal waters.

Researchers out trapping Asian paddle crabs – an invasive species – in Tauranga Harbour were “shocked” to find they’d caught a Japanese mantis shrimp, according to a Facebook post last week from the Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

“It’s the first time one has been found in the Bay of Plenty region but it’s not something to celebrate,” officials said.

While only one has been caught and formally identified by researchers, officials said they’ve received multiple reports about additional sightings from the public and are using this information to determine how widespread the species might be in the harbour.

The species got the nickname “thumb splitter” because they are aggressive and “can punch their way through aquarium glass”, officials said. Photo: AP

“Japanese mantis shrimp can easily be confused with a native species that is of similar size and colour,” said a November news release from the Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council.