The Sonic Weapon of the Pistol Shrimp

The pistol shrimp is a small creature with a superpower. It has one enlarged claw that it can snap shut with such force that it creates a cavitation bubble. When this bubble collapses, it produces a sonic blast of up to 218 decibels—louder than a gunshot. This shockwave is powerful enough to stun or kill small fish, making the shrimp a formidable hunter despite its tiny size. The bubble also momentarily reaches temperatures nearly as hot as the surface of the sun. It’s one of the most extreme examples of a physical adaptation in the animal kingdom, all packed into a creature just a few inches long.