How would you cook a shrimp that came from a hot water vent?
Deep-sea shrimp are smart enough to avoid prolonged swims over geothermal vents, but how would they fare in the kitchen?
Asked by: Tom Hampton, Queensland
Chuck it on the barbie! Deep-sea geothermal vents spew out water at 350°C, but shrimp such as Rimicaris exoculata are sensible enough to keep out of this cauldron. Although they can survive quick dashes into water at 100°C or more, they will die if they’re exposed to prolonged water temperatures above 39°C. Special pigments let them ‘see’ the infrared radiation from the vent and judge its temperature.
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