What Is a Snapping Shrimp?

The most common kind of shrimp known to the average person is the common shrimp, frequently seen grilled with cocktail sauce. But in the wild, a variety of shrimp exist. One of these, the snapping shrimp, is an unusually small shrimp known both for its distinctive body proportions as well as for the sounds that it makes.

  1. Members of the Alpheidae Family

    • The snapping shrimp belongs to the family Alpheidae. They are also commonly known as the pistol shrimp or the alpheid shrimp. Snapping shrimp are distinguished by their large claw, which is often half the size of their body and capable of making a snapping sound. There are more than 600 species of snapping shrimp in the Alpheidae family.

    Morphology of a Snapping Shrimp

    • The snapping shrimp typically grows to a maximum of two inches long, more than half of which will be comprised of its long claw. The snapping shrimp's claw has been described as pistol-like, which is responsible for its occasionally being called the pistol shrimp. This claw can be located on either arm and lacks pincers. A joint allows the claw to snap, and when the shrimp does this, it releases a powerful stream of bubbles known to disorient fish.

    Snapping Shrimp: Loudest Animal in the Sea

    • The snapping shrimp has been called one of the loudest animals in the sea. In an environment where sound is greatly magnified, the snapping of the shrimp's claw is dramatically amplified. According to researchers, the bubbles produced by the shrimp's claw blow out at the rate of 65 mph - equivalent to a car on the highway. This sound has been so loud that it reportedly interferes with sonar systems on submarines and boats.

    Typical Habitat of the Snapping Shrimp

    • Most varieties of snapping fish typical inhabit tropical and temperate marine areas. They can be found burrowing in coral reefs, oyster flats, and large fields of submerged sea grass. Often the snapping shrimp is found in colonies. Some snapping shrimp live symbiotically with goby fish - the goby fish watching for danger while the snapping shrimp stays in touch via its antenna. Others have been shown to live in social colonies, with complex roles as detailed as that of caretaker and protector.