Deafening Shrimp

I was called upon to cover a Science lesson at school today. My scientific knowledge doesn't extend beyond the D grade I achieved at GCSE and most of that knowledge (although guessing scientific words isn't really knowledge) is now forgotten. I took the Year 7 class to a computer room so that they could research hearing in the animal kingdom. Elephants have the biggest ears; starfish don't have any ears; grasshoppers have ears on their knees were some of the interesting facts that were found out, but the most interesting of facts was about an incredible little creature that I'd never heard of before: the pistol shrimp.

  The shrimp, which only grows to between 1-2 inches, has a unique and utterly brilliant way of catching its prey. It snaps its claw, generating a high-speed vapour bubble (the metaphorcial bullet from its pistol claw) that generates acoustic pressure. The bubble flies through the water at 60 miles per hour and releases a sound that reaches 218 decibels which is louder than a volcano's eruption - Krakatoa registered at 180 db - and more than the human ear can sustain. This makes it the loudest animal on earth. I was expecting a trumpeting elephant or a roaring lion, not a tiny little shrimp that swims around at the bottom of the ocean. The purpose of this aquatic racket is to kill small edible fish who cannot handle the pressure level created by the sound. The amazing facts about Shrimpy don't stop there though: when the bubble collapses it reaches temperatures of 4,700 degrees centigrade. The surface of the sun is estimated to be around 5,500 degrees, so this is pretty hot stuff. Fortunately this super-powered fish seems to pose no danger to humans although I wouldn't be too keen on going for a swim with one.