The mantis shrimp is a crustacean with a rather thorny shell, pearly color and two black spots on the tail segment. It is not very rich in meat but it is very tasty. The best time to eat it is from December and January, in fact during this period the females are loaded with eggs and, therefore, have fatter and tastier meats. Also known as sea cicadas or panicles, mantis shrimps reach a maximum of 18-19 centimeters in length and live on sandy bottoms of the whole Mediterranean, in particular the Adriatic. Mantis shrimp is great in soups and broths, but it can also be cooked on the grill or boiled and seasoned with olive oil and lemon.