"It's snow-white, hairy, haunted, and it has long, rough, hairy forelimbs reminiscent of the legendary snowman." It is the yeti crab, a mysterious deep-sea creature. Today's "underwater exploration", let's take a look at it!
Kopp Station: A hairy monster without vision - the snowman crab
In 2005, scientists discovered a new crustacean. They are very peculiar in appearance, looking like snowmen from the cold polar regions. In fact, they live on the dark and deep seabed near the South Pacific. Scientists named the new crustacean "Kivado Furry."
Creation of a new genus
Marine biologists conducted a census of marine life in the South Pacific off the coast of Easter Island when they spotted the yeti crab around hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. Because the body characteristics of the yeti crab are very different from those of other crustaceans, it cannot be divided into the families or genera that existed at that time, so scientists created the genus Kiva specifically for this crab.
Strange shape
The general shape of the snowman crab is similar to that of lobsters and crabs, with a body length of about 15 cm and a snow-white body; the crab claws are very long, extending to the front of the head, and the crab claws are covered with thin and long fluff, called "bristles"; the crab feet are much shorter than the crab claws, and they are also covered with silky white fluff.
There is no visual function
The undersea where the snowman crab lives is a world where no sunlight is visible at all, and only the little light emitted by luminous creatures is emitted. In such an environment, many creatures are visually degraded, and the yeti crab is like this. In fact, even if there is light, the snowman crab cannot perceive it, because their retina has degenerated and has no visual function at all.
Culture of bacteria
The yeti crab has many filamentous bacteria on its claws. The snowman crab will often shake its front claws at a certain rhythm, which can stir the water around the bacteria to ensure that the bacteria have an adequate supply of oxygen and sulfide, thus helping the bacteria grow. This is the first time people have learned that deep-sea animals can grow their own bacteria. Scientists believe that bacterial communities can isolate toxic minerals from hydrothermal water on the seafloor and protect the snowman crab from poisoning.
Huilan Shibei
Kiva "Kiva" is the name of the goddess who protects crustaceans in Polynesian mythology.
Eaters Scientists believe that the yeti crab is an omnivorous animal. Their diet includes algae and shrimp, and the bacteria in the villi can also provide some energy for the snowman crab.
Past periods are also wonderful
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