© KATE POCKLINGTON

A new species of shrimp has been named after Pink Floyd thanks to a pact between prog rock-loving scientists.The synalpheus pinkfloydi uses its large pink claw to create a noise so loud it can kill small fish. The team behind the discovery vowed years ago if it ever found a new pink shrimp it would “honour” the rockers.

Sammy De Grave, head of research at Oxford University Museum of National History, said he has been a fan of the band since he was a teenager. He has previous for naming crustaceans after rock legends, having already named a species of shrimp after Rolling Stones front man, Mick Jagger – Elephantis jaggerai.

He said: “I have been listening to Floyd since The Wall was released in 1979, when I was 14 years old, The description of this new species of pistol shrimp was the perfect opportunity to finally give a nod to my favourite band. We are all Pink Floyd fans, and we always said if we would find a pink one, a new species of pink shrimp, we would name it after Pink Floyd.”