Alpheus is the most diverse shrimp genus. Some of their defining
characteristics are orbital hoods and an oversized claw which
they use for defense and killing prey. When this claw is snapped
shut it shoots out water which creates a low pressure air bubble
behind it. The bubble reaches temperatures of 5000 degrees
Kelvin (half of the heat of the sun)(4). When the bubble pops it
makes a loud sound and produces a flash of light. The shockwave
from the pop stuns or kills the shrimp’s prey. The shrimp have
developed orbital hoods to protect their eyes from the
shockwave. However, this orbital hood leads to poor vision. In
order to make up for this shortcoming some shrimp have developed
a symbiotic relationship with gobies. The gobies protect the
shrimp from predators by looking around for predators. When a
goby detects a predator it moves its tail in a way that warns
the shrimp. The shrimp feels the movements with its antennae and
they both go hide. The shrimp and goby live in close proximity.
- (1) Smithsonian T