News from Tynemouth
Bullet-Proof Tank for Pistol Packing Shrimp
Marine experts at Tynemouth's Blue Reef Aquarium are taking no chances with their latest arrival - a trigger-happy pistol shrimp called Bruce.
Dubbed the 'fastest claw in the North', Bruce may only be 12 cms from nose to tail but he's still capable of landing a devastating knockout blow with the equivalent force of a .22 calibre bullet.
The shrimp uses a specially adapted front claw to literally batter its opponents into submission. Reaching speeds of 75 feet per second, the claw's striking power is so strong it has been known to shatter safety glass.
In fact he's potentially so dangerous staff at the aquarium have ensured his new home is made from super-strong acrylic and that he is fed from a safe distance using metal grabs.
"We nicknamed him after Bruce Lee for obvious reasons and decided to err on the side of caution with the design for his display," explained Blue Reef's Anna Etchells.
"Pistol or mantis shrimps are notorious as among the most aggressive and pugnacious of all creatures.
"They use their blunt, hammer-like front legs to stun their prey with repeated blows before wedging their battered victims - including crabs, clams and snails - against a wall and cracking their shells apart," she added.
However it's not just potential prey they're prepared to pick a fight with. One pistol shrimp was filmed attacking and defeating an over-confident octopus, and several divers have been badly injured after straying too close.
In Australia they've earned the nickname 'prawn killers' and in the West Indies 'split toes' or 'split thumbs'!
Scientists have also recently discovered the shrimps have the most sophisticated vision of any creature on the planet. It's thought they may be able to distinguish up to 100,000 colours - ten times more than the human eye.
