Alpheidae

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Alpheidae
Alpheus distinguendus.jpg
Alpheus digitalis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Caridea
Superfamily: Alpheoidea
Family: Alpheidae
Rafinesque, 1815

Alpheidae (also known as the snapping shrimp, pistol shrimp or alpheid shrimp[ citation needed ]) is a family within the infraorder caridea characterized by having asymmetrical claws, the larger of which is typically capable of producing a loud snapping sound.

Contents

The family is diverse and worldwide in distribution, consisting of about 1,119[ citation needed ] species within 38 or more genera. [1] The two most prominent genera are Alpheus and Synalpheus, with species numbering well over 330 and 160, respectively. [2] Most snapping shrimp dig burrows and are common inhabitants of coral reefs, submerged seagrass flats, and oyster reefs. While most genera and species are found in tropical and temperate coastal and marine waters, Betaeus inhabits cold seas and Potamalpheops has a cosmopolitan distribution including being found in freshwater caves in Mexico.

When in colonies, the snapping shrimp can interfere with sonar and underwater communication. The shrimp are considered a major source of sound in the ocean. [3]

Characteristics

Snapping shrimp grow to 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in) in length.

Its disproportionately large claw, larger than half the shrimp's body, is a dimorphic addition to the arsenal of the shrimp. The claw can be on either arm of the body, and, unlike most shrimp claws, does not have typical pincers at the end. Rather, it has a pistol-like feature made of two parts. A joint allows the "hammer" part to move backward into a right-angled position. When released, it snaps into the other part of the claw, emitting an enormously powerful wave of bubbles capable of stunning larger fish and breaking small glass jars. [4]

Snapping shrimp claw action. 1. closed pistol shrimp claw with hidden plunger (P). 2. open claw with exposed (P) and chamber (C). 3. open claw with water (W) entering (C). 4. claw with (P) pushed into chamber (C), forcing jet stream (J) out of (C). Pistol shrimp claw mechanism.svg
Snapping shrimp claw action. 1. closed pistol shrimp claw with hidden plunger (P). 2. open claw with exposed (P) and chamber (C). 3. open claw with water (W) entering (C). 4. claw with (P) pushed into chamber (C), forcing jet stream (J) out of (C).

The claw snaps to create a cavitation bubble that generates acoustic pressures of up to 80 kilopascals (12 psi) at a distance of 4 cm from the claw. As it ejects from the claw, the bubble reaches speeds of 25 m/s (90 km/h; 56 mph). [5] The pressure is high enough to kill small fish. [6] It corresponds to a peak pressure level of 218  decibels relative to one micropascal (dB re 1 μPa), equivalent to a zero to peak source level of 190 dB re 1 μPa m. Au and Banks measured peak to peak source levels between 185 and 190 dB re 1 μPa m, depending on the size of the claw. [7] Similar values are reported by Ferguson and Cleary. [8] The duration of the click is less than 1  millisecond.

The snap can also produce sonoluminescence from the collapsing cavitation bubble. As it collapses, the cavitation bubble emits a short flash of light with a broad spectrum. If the light were of thermal origin it would require a temperature of the emitter of over 5,000 K (4,700 °C). [9] In comparison, the surface temperature of the Sun is estimated to be around 5,772 K (5,500 °C). [10] The light is of lower intensity than the light produced by typical sonoluminescence and is not visible to the naked eye. It is most likely a by-product of the shock wave with no biological significance. However, it was the first known instance of an animal producing light by this effect. It has subsequently been discovered that another group of crustaceans, the mantis shrimp, contains species whose club-like forelimbs can strike so quickly and with such force as to induce sonoluminescent cavitation bubbles upon impact. [11]

The snapping is used for hunting (hence the alternative name "pistol shrimp"), as well as for communication. When hunting, the shrimp usually lies in an obscured spot, such as a burrow. The shrimp then extends its antennae outwards to determine if any fish are passing by. Once it feels movement, the shrimp inches out of its hiding place, pulls back its claw, and releases a "shot" which stuns the prey; the shrimp then pulls it to the burrow and feeds on it.[ citation needed ]

Snapping shrimp have the ability to reverse claws. When the snapping claw is lost, the missing limb will regenerate into a smaller claw and the original smaller appendage will grow into a new snapping claw. Laboratory research has shown that severing the nerve of the snapping claw induces the conversion of the smaller limb into a second snapping claw. The reversal of claw asymmetry in snapping shrimp is thought to be unique in nature. [12]

The snapping shrimp competes with much larger animals such as the sperm whale and beluga whale for the title of loudest animal in the sea.[ citation needed ] When in colonies, the snapping shrimp can interfere with sonar and underwater communication. [3] [13] [14] The shrimp are a major source of noise in the ocean [3] and can interfere with anti-submarine warfare. [15] [16]

Ecology

Alpheus randalli with a goby of the genus Amblyeleotris Gobi and shrimp.jpg
Alpheus randalli with a goby of the genus Amblyeleotris

Some snapping shrimp species share burrows with goby fish in a mutualistic symbiotic relationship. The burrow is built and tended by the pistol shrimp, and the goby provides protection by watching out for danger. When both are out of the burrow, the shrimp maintains contact with the goby using its antennae. The goby, having better vision, alerts the shrimp of danger using a characteristic tail movement, and then both retreat into the safety of the shared burrow. [17] This association has been observed in species that inhabit coral reef habitats.

Eusocial behavior has been discovered in the genus Synalpheus . The species Synalpheus regalis lives inside sponges in colonies that can number over 300. [18] All of them are the offspring of a single large female, the queen, and possibly a single male. The offspring are divided into workers who care for the young and predominantly male soldiers who protect the colony with their huge claws. [18]

The snapping shrimp species will retain the same mate after copulation, making them monogamous. Most females of the Alpheidae species are susceptible to mating. Young females become receptive to males either just before (premolt stage) or after the puberty molt, making them physiologically mature and morphologically able to carry the egg mass. Male presence during the molt is beneficial for the female, as searching for a male during her soft-bodied receptive phase would put her at mortal risk. Mates have more success with partners having greater body mass. The larger shrimp are most successful. These animals practice mate guarding, leading to a decline in mate competition, as well as bonding of partners. The male and female will defend their shelter to protect both territory and young. Larva develop in three stages: The nauplius larvae, zoea, and post larval stages.

Genera

Betaeopsis aequimanus Betaeopsis aequimanus.JPG
Betaeopsis aequimanus
Synalpheus fritzmuelleri Synalpheus fritzmuelleri.jpg
Synalpheus fritzmuelleri

More than 620 species are currently recognised in the family Alpheidae, distributed among 52 genera. The largest of these are Alpheus , with 336 species, and Synalpheus , with 168 species. [2] The following genera are recognised in the family Alpheidae: [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonoluminescence</span> Light emissions from collapsing, sound-induced bubbles

Sonoluminescence is the emission of light from imploding bubbles in a liquid when excited by sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiger pistol shrimp</span> Species of crustacean

The tiger pistol shrimp belongs to the Alpheidae family, known commonly as snapping shrimp.

<i>Alpheus</i> (crustacean) Genus of crustaceans

Alpheus is a genus of snapping shrimp of the family Alpheidae. This genus contains in excess of 330 species, making this the most species-rich genus of shrimp. Like other snapping shrimp, the claws of Alpheus are asymmetrical, with one of the claws enlarged for making a popping noise. Some species in the genus enter into symbiotic relationships with gobiid fishes, and others associate with sea anemones.

<i>Alpheopsis</i> Genus of crustaceans

Alpheopsis is a genus of shrimp of the family Alpheidae. Several species of the genus have been known to share the same burrows with members of different species. They are inhabitants of the eastern Pacific Ocean.

<i>Athanas</i> Genus of crustaceans

Athanas is a genus of shrimp of the family Alpheidae. These are small shrimp measuring 2 cm in length. Females have smaller chelae than males.

<i>Automate</i> (crustacean) Genus of crustaceans

Automate is a genus of pistol shrimp of the family Alpheidae, containing the following species:

<i>Synalpheus</i> Genus of crustaceans

Synalpheus is a genus of snapping shrimp of the family Alpheidae, presently containing more than 160 species; new ones are described on a regular basis, and the exact number even of described species is disputed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steinitz' prawn goby</span> Species of fish

Amblyeleotris steinitzi, Steinitz' prawn goby or simply Steinitz' goby, is a species of small fish in the family Gobiidae. It lives in association with an alpheid shrimp and is found from the Red Sea through the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Alpheus randalli</i> Species of crustacean

Alpheus randalli is a species of snapping shrimp in the family Alpheidae. It lives in the Marquesas Islands and parts of the Indian Ocean, including the Seychelles, in association with a goby of the genus Amblyeleotris. The shrimp is transparent or white with prominent red markings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chelae</span> Pincer-like organ terminating certain limbs of some arthropods

A chela – also called a claw, nipper, or pincer – is a pincer-shaped organ at the end of certain limbs of some arthropods. The name comes from Ancient Greek χηλή, through Neo-Latin chela. The plural form is chelae. Legs bearing a chela are called chelipeds. Another name is claw because most chelae are curved and have a sharp point like a claw.

Synalpheus regalis is a species of snapping shrimp that commonly live in sponges in the coral reefs along the tropical West Atlantic. They form a prominent component of the diverse marine cryptofauna of the region. For the span of their entire lives, they live in the internal canals of the host sponge, using it as a food resource and shelter. It has been shown that colonies contain over 300 individuals, but only one reproductive female. Also, larger colony members, most of which apparently never breed, defend the colony against heterospecific intruders. This evidence points towards the first known case of eusociality in a marine animal.

<i>Alpheus heterochaelis</i> Species of crustacean

Alpheus heterochaelis, the bigclaw snapping shrimp, is a snapper or pistol shrimp in the family Alpheidae. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

Synalpheus microneptunus is a species of small snapping shrimp native to the waters off the island of Barbados. It is one of at least seven known species of eusocial shrimp. They are cryptofauna, living exclusively within the network of tunnels in the sponges Neopetrosia proxima and Neopetrosia subtriangularis. They form small colonies of six to fifteen individuals, usually with only a single breeding female.

<i>Athanas areteformis</i> Species of crustacean

Athanas areteformis is a species of small alpheid shrimp from the Indo-West Pacific.

Alpheus tricolor is a crustacean belonging to the family of snapping shrimp. It was first isolated in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. It counts with a setose carapace, an acute rostrum, shallow adrostral furrows and a basicerite with a strong ventrolateral tooth. The lamella of its scaphocerite is not reduced, with an anterior margin that is concave. Its third maxilliped counts with an epipodial plate bearing thick setae, while its first chelipeds are found with their merus bearing a strong disto-mesial tooth; its third pereiopod has an armed ischium, with a simple and conical dactylus. Its telson is broad, distally tapering, with 2 pairs of dorsal spines. The species is named after its characteristic colour pattern, including white, red and orange.

<i>Alpheus fasqueli</i> Species of crustacean

Alpheus fasqueli is a crustacean belonging to the family of snapping shrimp. It was first isolated in Sri Lanka. It counts with a setose carapace, an acute and carinate rostrum, and unarmed orbital hoods. Its basicerite has a strong ventrolateral tooth. The lamella of its scaphocerite is not reduced. Its third maxilliped counts with an epipodial plate bearing thick setae, while its first chelipeds are found with their merus bearing a strong disto-mesial tooth; its third pereiopod has an armed ischium, with a simple and conical dactylus. Its telson is broad, distally tapering, with 2 pairs of dorsal spines. The species is named after Frédéric Fasquel, a photographer who contributed rare shrimp specimens for the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle.

<i>Synalpheus pinkfloydi</i> Species of snapping shrimp, named after Pink Floyd

Synalpheus pinkfloydi, the Pink Floyd pistol shrimp, is a species of snapping shrimp in the genus Synalpheus. Described in 2017, it was named after the rock band Pink Floyd, in part because it has a distinctive "bright pink-red claw". The sound it makes by snapping the claw shut reaches 210 decibels, and can kill nearby small fish.

<i>Alpheus armatus</i> Species of crustacean

Alpheus armatus is a species of snapping shrimp in the family Alpheidae, found in shallow water in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. It lives in association with a sea anemone such as Bartholomea annulata, clearing out sand from the cracks and crevices in which the sea anemone often lives.

Athanas sydneyensis is a species of small alpheid shrimp.

<i>Metabetaeus lohena</i> Species of alpheid shrimp

Metabetaeus lohena, also known as the alpha snapping shrimp or anchialine snapping shrimp, is a species of alpheid shrimp native to Hawaii and Easter Island.

References

  1. ↑ A. Anker; S. T. Ahyong; P. Y. Noel; A. R. Palmer (2006). "Morphological phylogeny of alpheid shrimps: parallel preadaptation and the origin of a key morphological innovation, the snapping claw". Evolution . 60 (12): 2507–2528. doi:10.1554/05-486.1. PMID   17263113. S2CID   18414340.
  2. 1 2 3 De Grave, Sammy (2024). "Alpheidae Rafinesque, 1815". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "Shrimp, bubble and pop". BBC News. September 21, 2000. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  4. ↑ Maurice Burton; Robert Burton (1970). The International Wildlife Encyclopedia, Volume 1. Marshall Cavendish. p. 2366.
  5. ↑ Versluis, Michel; Schmitz, Barbara; von der Heydt, Anna; Lohse, Detlef (2000-09-22). "How Snapping Shrimp Snap: Through Cavitating Bubbles". Science. 289 (5487): 2114–2117. doi:10.1126/science.289.5487.2114. ISSN   0036-8075. PMID   11000111.
  6. ↑ M. Versluis; B. Schmitz; A. von der Heydt; D. Lohse (2000). "How snapping shrimp snap: through cavitating bubbles" (PDF). Science . 289 (5487): 2114–2117. doi:10.1126/science.289.5487.2114. PMID   11000111.
  7. ↑ W. W. L. Au; K. Banks (1998). "The acoustics of the snapping shrimp Synalpheus parneomeris in Kaneohe Bay". Journal of the Acoustical Society of America . 103 (1): 41–47. doi:10.1121/1.423234.
  8. ↑ B. G. Ferguson; J. L. Cleary (2001). "In situ source level and source position estimates of biological transient signals produced by snapping shrimp in an underwater environment". Journal of the Acoustical Society of America . 109 (6): 3031–3037. doi:10.1121/1.1339823. PMID   11425145.
  9. ↑ D. Lohse; B. Schmitz; M. Versluis (2001). "Snapping shrimp make flashing bubbles" (PDF). Nature . 413 (6855): 477–478. doi:10.1038/35097152. PMID   11586346. S2CID   4429684.
  10. ↑ Williams, D.R. (1 July 2013). "Sun Fact Sheet". NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Archived from the original on 15 July 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  11. ↑ S. N. Patek; R. L. Caldwell (2005). "Extreme impact and cavitation forces of a biological hammer: strike forces of the peacock mantis shrimp" (PDF). The Journal of Experimental Biology . 208 (19): 3655–3664. doi: 10.1242/jeb.01831 . PMID   16169943. S2CID   312009.
  12. ↑ M. R. McClure (1996). "Symmetry of large claws in snapping shrimp in nature (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae)". Crustaceana . 69 (7): 920–921. doi:10.1163/156854096X00321.
  13. ↑ Kenneth Chang (September 26, 2000). "Sleuths solve case of bubble mistaken for a snapping shrimp". The New York Times . p. 5. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Sea creatures trouble sonar operators – new enzyme". The New York Times . February 2, 1947. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  15. ↑ Stuart Rock. "Submarine hunting in Somerset" (PDF). thalesgroup.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.]
  16. ↑ "Underwater Drones Join Microphones to Listen for Chinese Nuclear Submarines - AUVAC". auvac.org. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  17. ↑ I. Karplus (1987). "The association between gobiid fishes and burrowing alpheid shrimps". Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review. 25: 507–562.
  18. 1 2 J. E. Duffy (1996). "Eusociality in a coral-reef shrimp". Nature . 381 (6582): 512–514. doi:10.1038/381512a0. S2CID   33166806.
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