New Species of Pistol Shrimp

New Species of Pistol Shrimp Latest News

Researchers at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) recently discovered two new species of pistol shrimp named Alpheus vembanadi and Alpheus hari in the Kochi backwaters.

About Alpheus vembanadi and Alpheus hari

• They are two new species of pistol shrimp.
• They were discovered in the Kochi backwaters of Kerala. The specimens were collected from gillnets, a traditional fishing method used in the backwaters. 
• The first species, Alpheus vembanadi, has been named after the Vembanad backwaters.  
  • It is found in the Kochi backwaters throughout the year and can survive in waters with salinity levels of up to 31 parts per thousand (ppt). 
• The second species, Alpheus hari, was named in honour of Dr. M. Harikrishnan, Senior Professor at CUSAT’s School of Industrial Fisheries. 
  • The species has a notable ability to tolerate changes in salinity. 
  • Researchers found it in waters with very low salinity, while laboratory studies showed that it can also survive in freshwater. 

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Key Facts about Pistol Shrimp

• Pistol shrimp, also known as snapping shrimp, are a crustacean in the family Alpheidae.  
• There are hundreds of species found all over the world, but most species are found in reefs and seagrass beds in temperate and tropical regions. 
• They have one small claw called a pincer and a much larger claw-like snapper. 
• Some shrimps have snappers that are bigger than half its body.  
• The snapper is the shrimp’s weapon for killing or stunning prey. 
• However, they don’t grab or choke prey the way a crab does. Instead, the snapper has a complex mechanism that gives it much more power. 
• By rapidly snapping the snapper shut, the shrimp creates a cavitation bubble that collapses with a loud snapping sound. 
• This snap can stun or even kill small prey, which the shrimp then consumes. 

News: ETVB