It’s a good thing the pistol shrimp only grows to an inch or so long. If it were any bigger, its hunting method would be downright terrifying for many more creatures..

The pistol shrimp boasts an enormous claw that it can cock like a pistol and then close with incredible force. When the shrimp snaps its claw shut, it creates what is known as a ‘cavitation bubble’ or an area of extremely low water pressure. The cavitation bubble extends forward at the speed of 60mph and slams into the shrimp’s unfortunate prey. The shock of the bubble’s strike is strong enough to stun or kill small fish. It’s a naturally-occurring sonic death-ray! The stunned prey falls to the ocean floor, where the shrimp pulls it into its burrow and begins to feed.

The shrimp also takes part in an interesting symbiotic relationship with certain species of goby fish. The pistol shrimp has terrible eyesight and cannot see predators approaching. Despite its formidable weaponry, the pistol shrimp is left vulnerable to attacks by fast predators that can take advantage of its poor eyesight. To overcome this difficulty, the pistol shrimp stays close by its symbiont, the goby fish. The shrimp rests its antennae on the goby’s body. When the goby sees a predator approaching, it warns the pistol shrimp by means of certain bodily movements which act as signals. When the shrimp feels these signals, it retreats, along with the goby, back into their mutually-shared burrow. This allows the shrimp to lay in wait to ambush the unwitting fish with its pressure-weapon without fear.

There is no way that this tiny marvel of engineering did not have a designer. It is a wonder of God’s creation. The Psalmist says “This is the LORD’S doing; It is marvellous in our eyes”. (Psalm 118:23).

Categories: Animals