How snapping shrimp snap: Through cavitating bubbles

M. Versluis, B. Schmitz, A. Von der Heydt, D. Lohse

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

397 Scopus citations

Abstract

The snapping shrimp (Alpheus heterochaelis) produces a loud snapping sound by an extremely rapid closure of its snapper claw. One of the effects of the snapping is to stun or kill prey animals. During the rapid snapper claw closure, a high-velocity water jet is emitted from the claw with a speed exceeding cavitation conditions. Hydrophone measurements in conjunction with time-controlled high-speed imaging of the claw closure demonstrate that the sound is emitted at the cavitation bubble collapse and not on claw closure. A model for the bubble dynamics based on a Rayleigh-Plesset-type equation quantitatively accounts for the time dependence of the bubble radius and for the emitted sound.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2114-2117
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume289
Issue number5487
DOIs
StatePublished - 22 Sep 2000
Externally publishedYes

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