In some parts of the ocean, a hydrophone might pick up the sound of mantis shrimp punches. These shrimp are sometimes called “pistol shrimp.”
At the sea’s surface, all seems quiet except for the sounds of the wind and waves, and maybe an occasional bird call or whale blow. But when you drop an underwater microphone (a hydrophone) into the ocean, it picks up many surprising sounds.
Of course, what you hear underwater varies from place to place. In some parts of the ocean, a hydrophone might pick up the sound of mantis shrimp punches. These shrimp are sometimes called “pistol shrimp.” (Link to Featured Creature)
In California, scientists have heard another sound that mantis shrimp make: it’s a kind of rumble produced by the shrimp vibrating its hard shell. These low frequency rumbles last approximately 0.2 seconds. Each animal produces its own distinct rumble sound. Sometimes scientists have recorded multiple individuals in an area producing rumble sounds at the same time. Researchers aren’t sure what the animals are using the sounds for, but the rumble sounds are frequent during dawn and dusk, when the animals are feeding or guarding their burrows. Listen here.
