Marine Life & Conservation
Female snapping shrimps more aggressive than males
A new study has shown that female snapping shrimps are more aggressive than males, frequently snapping their deadly claws at each other.
Researchers in the US had expected male shrimps – which brandish a larger snapping claw – to behave more aggressively.
But despite their smaller claw size, females snapped more often when defending their territory.
Findings are published in the journal Ethology.
“We’re so used to seeing animals in which males have larger weapons than females: bigger antlers, bigger teeth, bigger horns… And in many of these species, males are more aggressive than females,” said Dr Melissa Hughes, from the College of Charleston in South Carolina, US who led the study.
“Males, more so than females, benefit from being aggressive and having large weapons, in species where males compete for females.”
Snapping shrimps are sometimes called pistol shrimps and use their larger claw – the major chela – as a deadly weapon to kill prey and opponents.
They can kill enemies with a direct snap, and are known to stun potential food with a jet of bubbles by rapidly closing their larger claw. The snapping sound of this bubble blast collapsing gave the animals their name.
The researchers wanted to see how different sexes use their claws to defend their territory.
They collected two species of snapping shrimp, Alpheus heterochaelis and Alpheus angulosus, and studied same-sex and opposite-sex interactions in test chambers.
The shrimps were allowed to become residents in a burrow, before being faced with intruder shrimps.
The researchers filmed these interactions and counted the number of snaps – a sign of aggression – by each shrimp.
In both species, female shrimps contradicted the researchers’ expectations by snapping more overall, and behaving more aggressively towards other females. Males were equally aggressive to both male and female intruders.
Dr Hughes admitted the reasons for females’ more aggressive behaviour are unclear.
“Female aggression has not been studied nearly as much, and so we don’t understand it nearly as well,” she said.
“One possibility here is that females are competing with each other for males, either through direct competition fighting over males, or by defending large territories so that the distance between females is too large for one male to easily move between multiple females.”
There are over 400 species of snapping shrimp. The crustaceans use their two distinct claws for different functions, and if they lose their larger claw in battle, the smaller one transforms into their snapping claw, and a new one grows where the snapper used to be.
“These are incredibly cool animals that nearly no one has ever heard of,” commented Dr Hughes.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk/nature
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
-
- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
-
- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
-
- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
-
- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
-
- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
Until 28 November, prizes worth a massive £10,000 – including experiences, products and tuition – feature in a line-up of items that can be won for £5 in an online prize draw to celebrate Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation’s 20th anniversary and help generate crucial funds for the future.
Top of the list of prizes is the chance to spend time with adventurer and wildlife expert Steve Backshall, a workout session with Nat Geo star Aldo Kane, a kayaking trip alongside white-water expert and diver Sal Montgomery and a Zoom call with ‘shark whisperer’ Cristina Zenato.
On top of that, some of the most admired companies in the diving and scuba industry have been quick to support the charity with fabulous prizes that make the £5 ticket price worth more than just a flutter.
Master Liveaboards, BSAC, Midlands Diving Chamber, Go Freediving and Blue Shark Snorkel have all generously donated experience prizes, while celebrated photographer Alex Mustard has donated a print and artists Scott Gleed and Olivier Leger have donated a sculpture and illustration to help boost the fundraising pot.
Fourth Element has donated Ocean Positive gear and LA watch company Nodus has gifted the charity a stunning dive watch. For land lovers, the charity has included a five star London hotel stay at Bankside Hotel plus a family visit to Longleat Safari Park in the roster of prizes.
Campaign director for Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with support from companies and individuals that we truly admire and who have supported us on our 20 year journey and we’re truly grateful to them all. While we feel incredibly proud of our achievements over the past two decades – and we are super excited about the next chapter – this prize draw isn’t a vanity project. It represents a real lifeline to our work and important advancements in the global protection of sharks. So we hope divers, dive clubs and even bargain hunters grab some tickets to make this a massive success.”
The charity hopes that the prize draw will generate crucial funds to launch a brand new, ground-breaking, campaign to enrol the public and increase support for the protection of sharks around the world.
To enter the competition visit www.bite-back.com/prizedraw. The prize winners will be announced on 1 December 2024.
-
News1 month agoIconic SS United States to become the World’s Largest Artificial Reef
-
Blogs3 months agoNovoScuba’s Game-Changing Approach for Dive Store Owners: WE PAY YOU!
-
News2 months agoBook Review – 52 Assignments: Underwater Photography
-
Gear News2 months agoDYNAMICNORD – New German diving brand enters the British market
-
News2 months agoExploring Cenote El Pit: A Diver’s Dream
-
Gear News2 months agoTry BARE drysuits (and maybe even win one!) this Friday with Sea & Sea at North West Dive Fest
-
News3 months agoComing Soon – 52 Assignments
-
News3 months agoSave £200 per person per week at Pole Pole Lodge with Dive Worldwide