The shrimp have guns!

[Jeanneau 45.2]

Could not help but notice the incessant and loud "snap crackle pop" through the hull once I was south of Charleston, SC. So loud it had me opening up lockers and bilge covers looking for some type of stowaway. I happened to mention last week in St Agustine, FL this phenomenon to the diver cleaning my bottom. He says "oh yeah, its those pistol shrimp" and he proceeds to show me the many clinging to his wet suit. Upon examination, I did not see any shrimp carrying hand guns, but Florida is a concealed carry state. I'm so funny.

[SV DestinyAscen]

Oh those mantis shrimp sure have some interesting adaptions. I was told their attack was so quick a snap it causes cavitations and approaches the speed of sound. Cool ceatures!

[gdavids]

Radiolab did a fabulous podcast about these little guys. When you learn the whole story, it will blow your mind. http://www.radiolab.org/story/bigger-bacon/

[normdeeley]

I always thought it was krill that made that noise.

[Hudson Force]

The "Pistol" shrimp are the loudest, but they are living in burrows at coral reefs and not the noisy ones along the US East Coast tidal areas.

I think they all can make some snapping and popping sounds whether they are krill, prawn, scampi, crawfish or shrimp.

[barnakiel]

Little buggers. We have them in LP, Canary Islands, too!

It took a while to learn where the crickety sound comes from!

b.

[Capt.Alex]

Wait until you have a black drum under the boat. You will think your water pump is cycling every couple of minutes. I had to get up one night and run the engine in gear to make one move so I could get some sleep!

[Kita]

:

Originally Posted by Capt.Alex

Wait until you have a black drum under the boat. You will think your water pump is cycling every couple of minutes. I had to get up one night and run the engine in gear to make one move so I could get some sleep!

,,I will have to remember that,that's funny

[SqPeg]

We have carp that thump along the hull at night during spawning season.

[a64pilot]

I have never had it happen to me, but have been told that Manatees will bump against your boat, I guess maybe scratching their back?

[capt jgw]

Here on the Lakes we have freshwater drum. They make a "barum barum" sound that's pretty loud. Get a couple hundred of them going and it sounds like some weird underwater machinery... or aliens.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I have never had it happen to me, but have been told that Manatees will bump against your boat, I guess maybe scratching their back?

I've had that from the manatees and worse. I have a set of manatee teeth marks around my water effluent from my aft cabin air conditioner. I had a short piece of tygon tubing to direct the flow of this warm water effluent away from my hull. Manatees would come and nurse against my hull!

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Hudson Force

I've had that from the manatees and worse. I have a set of manatee teeth marks around my water effluent from my aft cabin air conditioner. I had a short piece of tygon tubing to direct the flow of this warm water effluent away from my hull. Manatees would come and nurse against my hull!

They may have thought it was fresh water...they will come and drink from a hose hanging off a dock.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

They may have thought it was fresh water...they will come and drink from a hose hanging off a dock.

True, but I'm claiming that they thought my ketch was the big mamma!

[PaulinOz]

Just be glad you are on a Boat, the folks on dry land have to contend with

Cows with Guns.