Pistol and Goby | Pt 1
The Randall's pistol shrimp (Alpheus randalli), native to the shallow tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian and central Pacific oceans, is known as the candy cane shrimp for its red and white or transparent striped body.
This crustacean grows to approximately 1.2 inches long and has poor eyesight. The larger claw snaps, closed quickly to create shockwaves that generate a lot of acoustic pressure and noise. These bubbles can both be used as a communication tool and to stun prey for food. The Randall's pistol shrimp has a symbiotic relationship, known as mutualism, with a fish called the Goby fish (Amblyeleotris randalli). Mutualism is where two species are dependent on each other and both benefit from the relationship. The reason for pistol shrimp to form a relationship with another fish even though it has an overwhelming power in it's big claw it's eyesight is so poor that it can't see it's predators until it's too late. These two species both live in expansive sandy burrows on the sea floor. The shrimp digs and maintains the burrow and is responsible for covering the burrow openings at night. The shrimp disrupts the loose top soil causing all the insects to come out on which the goby fish feasts upon. The goby also alerts the shrimp when the predators are around. Scientists still not sure how suspect that the communication is through the touch of the fin of the fish and antenna of the shrimp. Together even hunt prey. Together they hunt, eat, live kind of attached.
Awesome!
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