Today while tide pooling on San Marcos Island in the Sea of Cortez guests of the Sea Bird encountered a recent scientific celebrity, the pistol shrimp. These one to two inch crustaceans are also known as snapping shrimp for the loud snap or pop they create with the larger of their two claws. Until recently marine biologists thought the shrimp produced the noise by releasing the dynamic tension generated between two smooth pads on the face of the shrimp's claw. The claw's muscles produced the force needed to pull the pads apart, and when reached, the pads separated with an audible pop. However, a recent article in the highly regarded publication, "Science", reported that the shrimps actually produced small bubbles when the claw opened, and these bubbles burst creating a popping noise and sending a pulse of water. Snapping shrimp are found around the world in shallow water habitats and are known to use their "pistols" both for defense as well as to stun small prey. Guests holding these small shrimp could hear the pop and feel the force produced by the claw. The pistol shrimps were just one of the many exotic animals discovered in today's tide pool adventure. We are eager to see what tomorrow brings.