[gtranslate]
News

A monstrous shrimp that kills using sonic blasts has been named after Pink Floyd

What better way to pay homage to your favourite band ever than naming a goddamn species after it?

To Oxford University zoologist Dr Sammy de Grave there is none. He’s been waiting years for the chance to name something after Pink Floyd – his longtime favourite artist.

Recently, he finally got his chance, naming a species of pistol shrimp that can produce a sound louder than a rock show from its claws, Synalpheus pinkfloydi.

Pink Floyd
Illustration: CA

A monstrous shrimp species that kills using sonic blasts from its claws has been named after Pink Floyd, because scientists can do whatever the fuck they want.

Speaking with the Telegraph Dr de Grave said: “I have been listening to Floyd since The Wall was released in 1979, when I was 14 years old. I’ve seen them play live several times since, including the Hyde Park reunion gig for Live8 in 2005. 

The description of this new species of pistol shrimp was the perfect opportunity to finally give a nod to my favourite band.”

What description?

Well, pistol shrimps have the ability to generate a huge amount of volume.

By snapping its enlarged claw shut at rapid speed the shrimp creates a high-pressure cavitation bubble which collapses to produce one of the loudest sounds in the ocean.

The sonic blast can reach 210 decibels – louder than the sound of a gunshot (140-190 decibels) and that of a rock show (115-120 decibels) – and is powerful enough to stun or even kill small fish.

For a split-second, the imploding bubble also generates temperatures of 4,400C, which is nearly as hot as the surface of the sun.

Sonic blasts? Imploding bubbles? Monstrously enlarged claws? Sounds pretty Pink Floyd to me.

[via The Telegraph]