Snapping Shrimp Use Headgear to Protect Brains from Shock Waves

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Researchers have discovered that snapping shrimp, known for their ability to stun prey and fight with high-speed water jets, have evolved a unique protective mechanism - transparent hoods built into their exoskeletons that shield their brains and eyes from the intense concussive forces of their own claw snaps. The study, published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, found these hoods are half as stiff as the hard shell and twice as effective at dissipating stress, allowing the shrimp to avoid disorientation and loss of mobility that unprotected shrimp experience.

Why it matters

The findings on how snapping shrimp protect themselves from self-inflicted head trauma could have implications for protecting athletes in contact sports like football who also face risks of concussive brain injuries. The study highlights how evolution has equipped these small crustaceans with an ingenious natural 'helmet' to withstand the extreme forces they generate.

The details

Snapping shrimp, part of the Malacostraca class and Decapoda order related to crabs, lobsters and crayfish, stun prey and fight for mates and territory by shooting out high-speed jets of water that trigger supersonic shock waves. Scientists from the University of South Carolina and University of Tulsa discovered the shrimp's transparent hoods, built into their exoskeletons, are half as stiff as the hard shell and twice as effective at dissipating the stress from the powerful claw snaps. Earlier behavioral experiments showed shrimp with the protective hoods were unharmed by the shock waves, while those without the hoods were disoriented and lost some mobility.

• The study was published on February 11, 2026 in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface.