The Pistol Shrimp - Nature's Crack Shot

When you think about the loudest animals in the ocean, usually whales come to mind. Some whale calls are among the loudest noises on earth and can be heard for many miles around. However, a significant amount of noise in the ocean is provided by a much smaller, 1-2 inch long shrimp called the Alpheidae, or pistol shrimp.

Pistol shrimp each have one specialized claw that is larger than the other. They are capable of snapping this claw together to produce a tremendous noise of up to 218 decibels; louder than a gun blast or a jet engine! The noise these shrimp produce is significant enough to actually disrupt sonar in submarines.

Though this snapping noise is often used for communication, pistol shrimp also use their unique abilities to hunt. When they snap their claws together a low pressure bubble is formed and a jet of water is shot out at 60mph. When this bubble collapses it momentarily produces a flash of light that is as hot as the surface of the sun! The shockwave from this collapse can easily stun the shrimp’s prey, allowing it to drag it back to its burrow for consumption.

Aquatic Cleaning Stations

While there may indeed be a week-long celebration of sharks on a certain network, today I thought I would present you guys with some of the unsung heroes of the marine world, the cleaner fish.

Like any animal, a fish can develop skin problems, become afflicted with parasites and get generally dirty. Without the ability to take care of any of these problems themselves, some fish have developed a mutually beneficial relationship with one another.

Certain species of fish are known as cleaner fish. They provide a service to other fish (even sharks) by removing parasites and dead skin from their bodies and food particles from their mouths. It’s mutually beneficial because the cleaner fish feeds on what it removes while the client fish reaps the health benefits.


A pair of cleaner wrasses go to work on a client

The best known cleaner fish is called the cleaner wrasse. These are small fish identifiable by their horizontal stripes. They congregate at “cleaning stations” near the sea floor in the Indian and Pacific oceans. When approached by client fish at these stations, the cleaner wrasses will go to work on whatever part of the client that needs cleaned, even swimming into their gills and mouths if necessary. Although the client fish are easily capable of eating the tiny wrasses, they recognize the service they provide and do not prey upon them.

Other marine animals that provide a similar service are several types of gobies and cleaner shrimp.

Shockingly Pink

Ever wonder why a flamingo is so pink? It is directly linked to the shrimp-like crustaceans that they eat. If these shrimp-like creatures are not a part of their diet, they stay quite pale. Young flamingos are born gray and white, and don’t turn pink for two years.