UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 18 February 2026

Alpheus Madhusoodanai Latest News

Researchers recently discovered a new species of pistol shrimp named Alpheus madhusoodanai in the Kochi backwaters.

About Alpheus Madhusoodanai

• It is a new species of pistol shrimp, also known as snapping shrimp.
• It was discovered from Kochi backwaters, Kerala.
• It belongs to the family Alpheidae.
• It is the first alpheid shrimp species to be recorded from an estuary in the region.
• In local waters, they occur in small numbers and are often caught in stake nets.
• It has a burrowing tendency and contributes to the health of mangrove ecosystems by releasing toxic gases trapped in swampy soil.

Key Facts about Pistol Shrimp

• The pistol shrimp, also known as the snapping shrimp, possesses an extraordinary weapon — an oversized claw that can “fire” underwater bullets made of bubbles. 
• These aren’t ordinary bubbles — they’re created through a process called sonoluminescence, “in which water is energised with specific vibrations causing emission of light through bubbles.
• The resulting temperatures can reach an astounding 4,400°C — nearly as hot as the surface of the sun.
• The sounds produced when the pistols of these shrimps are fired are among the loudest sounds that can be heard in the oceans.
• The sound reaches an incredible 218 decibels — louder than a gunshot, typically around 140-175 decibels.
• The pistol shrimp primarily uses this powerful weapon to catch prey. 
• When hunting, it hides in its burrow, waiting for prey to come within range before firing its claw with remarkable speed and precision.
•  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.

Source: TOI