Things don't always turn out the way you think they will!

[Neogonodactylus]

A 55mm stomatopod (Gonodactylaceus glabrous) meets a large blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena sp?). I was trying to see how fast the venom (TTX) from the octopus would kill the stomatopod. The stomatopod evaded the initial pounce by the blue-ring, swam up into the water column and made two quick dive bombing attacks, each time striking the blue-ring on the dorsal mantle. The blue-ring fled the scene! I've seen several species of stomatopod deal with octopus in this same fashion fighting up in the water column launching attacks from above.

Roy

 

[DWhatley]

I remember one such experiment . I take it that the large BR was not the mantis' dinner but did it just go into hiding after the octo left? Did it appear that the mantis was aiming for between the eyes when it attacked? Are you going to post a video ?