Science

Scientists ‘Baffled’ By Weird Way the ‘Yeti’ Crab Farms Food

Yeti Crab First Deep Sea Animal Seen Farming Its Own Food

"Yeti" crab. (Photo: Andrew Thurber via Nature)

Scientists are fascinated by this blind white crab, Kiwa hirsute, for several reasons. Not only was it first discovered near piping hot hydrothermal vents in the ocean,  but it also had “shaggy” claws, giving it the nickname the “Yeti crab.” A second species, K. puravida, with similar hair-like projections was found in a very different location near cold, methane-rich cracks in the ocean.

Scientists wanted to know was what these crabs were doing at such odd locations –and of course what the purpose of their hairy claws were. At first when they observed the crabs waving their claws back and forth, according to National Geographic, they thought it was a mechanism for keeping others away, but this may not actually the case. Researchers at Oregon State University in Corvallis think they found the real purpose and also solved the puzzle as to the crab’s strange deep-sea hangouts:

“When I first saw it, ‘baffled’ would be a good word for how I felt,” said study co-author Andrew Thurber, a biological oceanographer at Oregon State University in Corvallis.

[...]

Researchers now suggest the claw-swaying helps wash nutrients over the bacteria, essentially fertilizing them.

It remains uncertain whether the yeti crab’s hairy appendages might help detect currents in the water. If so, the appendages may help crabs identify the sources of the nutrients that sustain their microbe “farms.”

Watch the Yeti crab wave its claws here:

National Geographic reports Thurber as saying this is the first instance of a deep-sea animal being observed “farming” its own food before.

Check out this footage of a Yeti crab feeding off the bacteria growing on its claws:

 

Comments (26)

  • The_Almighty_Creestof
    Posted on December 6, 2011 at 10:31pm

    Well…I sure hope these scientists apply for some type of government grant and get several 100 million dollars of taxpayer money. Cause, as you know…our cup runneth over.

    Report Post »  
  • DirtyDeeds
    Posted on December 6, 2011 at 7:42pm

    I’m glad George Bernard Shaw is already dead. If he knew this crab existed, he would be insisting that the crab wave it’s arms back and forth to produce as much if not more than it consumes. This terrible joke is probably only funny in my head. I’d thought I would share it anyways.

    Report Post » DirtyDeeds  
  • TEARS FOR AMERICA
    Posted on December 6, 2011 at 8:10am

    Cudos to the Creator! A live filtering system that grows it’s own food, wow!

    Report Post » TEARS FOR AMERICA  
  • grayling646
    Posted on December 6, 2011 at 3:27am

    sheesh, what a slow news day.

    Report Post »  
    • joshcomm
      Posted on December 6, 2011 at 9:58am

      You are informed about the magnificance of God, even to the simple things, and you whine that it is a “slow news day.” S A D !

      Report Post » joshcomm  
    • DeavonReye
      Posted on December 6, 2011 at 11:51am

      I didn’t see anything about “god” here? It is an amazing creature, sure. Let’s not turn everything into a “religious answer”.

      But to the question of “a slow news day”, considering the MANY stories you can click on within The Blaze, I am not sure why you wouldn’t just be able to see this as an interest piece. :-/ It may not be “world in peril” stuff, but news doesn’t have to be.

      Report Post » DeavonReye  
  • cosmic dogma
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:32pm

    You guys are on a roll tonight. LOL

    Report Post »  
  • jespasinthru
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:21pm

    Big deal. My pet tarantula, Mortimer Smiley, has some really gross eating habits. He eats mice that I buy from the pet store for 25 cents apiece. And he won’t eat them unless he gets to chase them down and grab them. I can’t watch it.

    Report Post » jespasinthru  
    • Marc Conder
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:25am

      let your spider get a bit bigger, take him to the supermarket, let him hunt down small kids, say, up to 5 years old. I would pay to watch……and think of the video rights? Asia alone would be worth 20billion! “Mortimer Munches Mumbai! Hindu Horror! It could work!

      Report Post » Marc Conder  
  • ShyMan
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:18pm

    Isn’t that the subspecies Lindsus Lohanus?

    Report Post » ShyMan  
  • ohiowordguy
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 10:19pm

    @ OLDSCHOOLGREEN: Man…only 14 comments, and somebody stole my OWS joke! Good one!

    @SEKNDAMENDMENT: Too true. The Blaze is rife with errors. I have almost 30 years in the field, and I thought it was just me who noticed the sloppy editing.

    Report Post »  
  • amd1044
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 9:40pm

    This article has crabs.

    Report Post »  
  • TROONORTH
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 8:49pm

    Looks like one of the bloody ‘Mop Tops’! John? Is that you? Gear! Fab!

    Report Post » TROONORTH  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 8:39pm

    They also found a third “Yeti” Crab species, in Nancy Pelosi’s pants.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • Mingaw
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:01pm

    Everyone makes mistakes. The subject was fascinating to be sure.

    Report Post »  
  • oldschoolgreen
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:55pm

    Maybe this is why the OWS‘rs don’t shower? Are they trying to get their own bacteria farm started?

    Report Post »  
  • SekndAmendment
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:49pm

    I have a 4 year degree from a major university and have taken technical writing courses as part of my major. If you are in need of a new editor (after reading this article I’m fairly certain that you are…) I offer you my services at $1.00/hr less than what you pay the current editor.

    Report Post »  
    • SurhanSurhan
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:26pm

      @ SEKNDAMENDMENT- Lol!!!

      Report Post »  
    • SergeantMajor
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:06pm

      I don’t think that they can legally pay you less than minimum wage. Side note – cool crab – I want one for my aquarium, now just where to get the methane source… oh – I got an idea :)

      Report Post » SergeantMajor  
    • Secessionista
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:15pm

      Bravo!

      Report Post » Secessionista  
  • gmoneytx
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:40pm

    No wonder no one has commented on this article…

    Report Post » gmoneytx  
    • chris3
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 8:03pm

      cute crab, useless “expert” comments,fit’s right in to usa today! oh wait,wrong site?

      Report Post »  

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