Rock’n’roll shrimp named after Pink Floyd because of its deafening vocal ability
▻http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/11/rocknroll-shrimp-named-pink-floyd-deafening-vocal-ability
A shrimp that produces a sound louder than a rock concert has been named after the band Pink Floyd by a rock fan zoologist.
The pistol shrimp, named Synalpheus pinkfloydi, has a distinctive pink snapping claw that it uses to stun prey with sonic energy.
Zoologist and Pink Floyd fan Dr Sammy de Grave, from Oxford University’s Museum of Natural History, had been waiting for the chance to honour the prog rock legends by giving their name to a new species.
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Like any self-respecting rock band, pistol shrimps have the ability to generate a huge amount of volume.
By snapping its enlarged claw shut at rapid speed the shrimp creates a high-pressure #cavitation bubble which collapses to produce one of the loudest sounds in the ocean.
The sonic blast can reach 210 decibels - far louder than the sound of a gunshot - and is powerful enough to stun or even kill small fish.
For a split-second, the imploding bubble also generates temperatures of 4,400C, which is nearly as hot as the surface of the sun.
Some species of pistol shrimp use their sonic weapon to drill burrows into solid basalt rock.
